CNW offers a $10,000 reward for information leading to conviction in wolf poaching case

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is investigating fatal poisoning of six wolves

Seattle, Wash. – Wildlife officials are asking anyone with information about who killed six wolves in Stevens County earlier this year to come forward and help identify the suspects.

WDFW began investigating this incident in February when they discovered someone had killed four wolves of the Wedge pack. Officials found another two dead wolves a few weeks later. Toxicology reports show all six wolves died from poisoning, according to investigators.

Wolves are a protected species in Washington, and their illegal killing is a gross misdemeanor and punishable by up to one year in jail and a $5000 fine

The investigation remains active, and the Department encourages anyone with relevant information to report it confidentially by calling WDFW’s poaching hotline, 877-933-9847, or by texting a tip to 847411.

Conservation Northwest offers reward money to aid in solving especially egregious poaching cases. Our generous members and donors provide reward funds. As a private not-for-profit organization, these specific funds are not provided by grants or government agencies. These wolves were killed in the area inhabited by several iterations of the Wedge Pack. The pack has been subjected to full removal by lethal control twice. The fact that the area keeps getting re-inhabited means that it’s great habitat, and wolves will keep coming back.

“It is deeply disturbing that even with the use of publicly funded deterrents and state intervention in response to depredations, there is still a situation where someone felt compelled to do this. We need to find solutions that allow wolves to inhabit this wild country without constant death threats hanging over their heads,” said Paula Swedeen, Conservation Northwest’s Wolf Policy Lead.

Contact communications@conservationnw.org for more information about redeeming these rewards. Rewards will be fulfilled after a conviction is obtained. Those with information on potential poaching should contact the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement division.

Media contact: Andrea Wolf-Buck, Conservation Northwest Communications Director, andrea@conservationnw.org, 510-295-3579

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