6 wolves poisoned in northeast Washington, reward offered

COLVILLE, Wash. — Six wolves found dead this year in northeast Washington were poisoned and a reward is being offered for tips leading to a conviction in the case, officials said Monday.

Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said the agency has been investigating wolf deaths within the Wedge pack territory in Stevens County since local authorities discovered four dead wolves on Feb. 18.

The agency found two more dead wolves in the following month.

Toxicology results revealed all six wolves died from ingesting poison, officials said.

Officials are asking anyone who might have relevant information to report it confidentially by calling Fish and Wildlife’s poaching hotline, 877-933-9847, or by texting a tip to 847411.

Conservation groups are offering a $51,000 reward for tips that lead to convictions in the poisonings.

“Anyone with the good fortune to see a wolf in the wild knows of their beauty, intellect and tight family bond,” Zoe Hanley, a wolf biologist with Defenders of Wildlife, said in an emailed statement. “This cowardly act flies in the face of committed efforts from biologists, policymakers and ranchers working to recover and coexist with wolves in Washington.”

Six wolves found dead this year in northeast Washington were poisoned and a reward is being offered for tips leading to a conviction in the case, officials said Monday.

Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said the agency has been investigating wolf deaths within the Wedge pack territory in Stevens County since local authorities discovered four dead wolves on Feb. 18.

The agency found two more dead wolves in the following month.

Toxicology results revealed all six wolves died from ingesting poison, officials said.

Officials are asking anyone who might have relevant information to report it confidentially by calling Fish and Wildlife’s poaching hotline, 877-933-9847, or by texting a tip to 847411.

Conservation groups are offering a $51,000 reward for tips that lead to convictions in the poisonings.

“Anyone with the good fortune to see a wolf in the wild knows of their beauty, intellect and tight family bond,” Zoe Hanley, a wolf biologist with Defenders of Wildlife, said in an emailed statement. “This cowardly act flies in the face of committed efforts from biologists, policymakers and ranchers working to recover and coexist with wolves in Washington.”

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