WDFW Investigating Wolf Death In Ferry County; No July Livestock Depredations Reported

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is investigating the death of a wolf found in Ferry County during July, while reporting no confirmed or probable wolf attacks on livestock anywhere in the state during the month. WDFW staff discovered the deceased wolf in Ferry County, and the agency’s police division is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

It was the only wolf mortality reported during July and brought the number of documented wolf deaths in Washington to nine so far in 2026. The department is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact WDFW Police at 877-933- 9847 or submit information through the agency’s reporting system. The Ferry County investigation was included in WDFW’s July wolf report, released Aug. 11, which provided updates on wolf monitoring, livestock conflicts, and management activities across Washington.

Despite ongoing wolf activity around the state, WDFW reported no documented wolf depredations on livestock during July. The agency said that, in a typical year, about 80% of Washington’s known wolf packs are not involved in any documented livestock depredation. Several northeast Washington packs have been in- volved in livestock conflicts during the previous 10 months, although none had a newly documented depredation during July. Among those were the Onion Creek pack, which was tied to confirmed calf injuries and a mortality in May.

WDFW’s director authorized lethal removal from that pack May 22. The Sherman pack was connected to two calf incidents in October 2025, including one calf that was euthanized because of the severity of its injuries. Elsewhere in the state, the Tucannon pack was involved in multiple livestock incidents earlier this year. WDFW authorized lethal removal from that pack June 23, and one wolf was lethally removed by the department June 30. Another dead wolf discovered June 26 was listed as an unlawful take and remained under investigation.

WDFW also continues to monitor wolf packs throughout northeast Washington. During July, biologists conducted monitoring work in the Dirty Shirt, Maverick, Ruby Creek, Smackout, Stranger, Togo, and Wedge pack territories, among others. Staff also followed up on public reports in the Salmo pack territory. Many other packs had no activity to report during the month.

Washington’s year-end minimum wolf population for 2025 was at least 270 wolves in 49 known packs, including at least 23 successful breeding pairs. WDFW conducts its annual population surveys during the winter, when wolf numbers are considered most stable, and expects to release its 2026 year-end count in April 2027.

Wolf-livestock conflict prevention remains a focus of state funding and policy. The Washington Legislature appropriated $390,000 for fiscal year 2026 and another $390,000 for fiscal year 2027 for WDFW to develop strategies aimed at reducing wolf-livestock conflicts while supporting wolf recovery. Lawmakers also directed WDFW not to hire contract range riders in northeast Washington except when needed to fill gaps left by organizations receiving funding through the northeast Washington wolf-livestock management grant program.

Instead, the department was directed to focus on coordinating with other organizations providing range riding, conflict deterrence, and technical assistance to livestock producers. The Legislature has additionally directed WDFW and the Washington State Department of Agriculture to examine a “Pay for Presence” program intended to offset costs faced by livestock producers operating in areas occupied by wolves. WDFW submitted a report on the concept to lawmakers in June.