Three recent wolf poaching events in Washington have prompted conservationists and a federal wildlife agency to offer $20,000 for information on each case.
Three gray wolves have been unlawfully murdered in Klickitat and Okanogan counties since October. In the western two-thirds of the state, which includes Klickitat and Okanogan counties, gray wolves are federally protected and listed as endangered by state law.
The Center for Biological Diversity and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are each offering $10,000 for information that results in an arrest and conviction.
Amaroq Weiss, senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, expressed his sadness over the unlawful kills of more Washington wolves, adding to the massive increase in wolf mortality caused by humans in this area in recent years. The entire force of the law should be applied to whoever killed these lovely animals since they didn’t deserve to die in this manner.
The death of an adult male gray wolf east of the Klickitat River near U.S. Highway 142 and Goldendale in the south-central region of the state was investigated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on October 6. After being shot and forced to drag itself to a water source without using its rear legs, the wolf starved to death, the agency said.
On October 20, an adult female wolf was discovered dead in Okanogan County southwest of Twisp.
On December 17, the department started looking into the death of another adult male wolf in Klickitat County. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the wolf was the only surviving member of the Big Muddy Pack and was killed northeast of Trout Lake.
According to the organization, five wolves were unlawfully killed in Washington last year. Investigations into four of the deaths are still ongoing.
Killing an endangered animal carries a maximum $5,000 fine and a one-year prison sentence under state law. Knowingly breaking the federal Endangered Species Act carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.
Anyone with information regarding the killings should get in touch with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via their website or by calling their tip line at 844-FWS-TIPS. Additionally, they can contact the state Department of Fish and Wildlife by email at [email protected] or via phone at 877-933-9487.Callers can stay anonymous.
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