Surveys by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife confirm that a new pack of at least 2 wolves is roaming the "wedge" between the Columbia and Kettle Rivers in the northeast corner of the state, reports the Wildlife Management Institute. These wolves are living in the territory of the original Wedge Pack, the first whole wolf pack lethally removed by the department. The decision to remove the entire Wedge Pack in September 2012 after repeated non-lethal methods failed to alter the pack's depredation on livestock was highly controversial. Critics of the department's decision to remove the pack voiced concern that killing all 8 wolves could set back recovery of the species in the state. The reappearance of wolves in the wedge, first documented within six to eight weeks following removal of the Wedge Pack, combined with results of other surveys, show that Washington's wolf population continues to increase, even with the management removals.

Wolf numbers can increase quickly in areas with abundant prey and limited human-caused mortality. In addition, wolf range can expand rapidly on the edges of an expanding population because dispersing wolves do not have to compete with existing packs to establish a new territory. Both of these patterns are evident in Washington.

Washington's total wolf population increased from a minimum of 27 wolves in 5 packs with 3 successful breeding pairs at the end of 2011 to at least 51 wolves in 9 packs (including the new Wedge Pack) with 5 breeding pairs at the end of 2012. A breeding pair of wolves is a male and female that successfully raises at least 2 offspring from birth in spring to the end of the calendar year. The growth rate in Washington mirrors that in Oregon, the other state along the western edge of the Northern Rockies wolf population. Wolf numbers in Oregon rose from a minimum of 29 wolves in 5 packs with 1 breeding pair in 2011 to at least 46 wolves in 7 packs with 6 breeding pairs at the end of 2012. Both states are experiencing the rapid increase in wolf numbers and wolf management challenges that Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming faced during the early years of wolf recovery in those states following reintroduction of wolves to the Northern Rockies in 1995 and 1996.

The department has not confirmed whether the two new Wedge Pack wolves came from another area or were part of the former pack that managers were not aware of when they removed the wolves last September. Regardless, it is clear that the area claimed by the original Wedge pack is home to wolves again. Time will tell whether the new Wedge Pack will become a breeding pair and whether they will rely on wild game or turn to livestock, like their predecessors.

As wolves move into new areas, people ? both wolf advocates and those adversely affected by wolves ? must adapt. Ranchers whose stock is vulnerable to depredation will need to alter herd management practices to reduce losses. Wolf advocates must recognize that lethal removal of wolves, either by agency actions or through regulated hunting and trapping, is essential to managing wolf numbers and maintaining tolerance for wolves.

That point was driven home by the controversy surrounding Washington's decision last fall to remove the Wedge Pack. Department director Phil Anderson said, "Directing the pack's removal was a very difficult decision, both personally and professionally, but it was necessary to reset the stage for sustainable wolf recovery in this region. Now we will refocus our attention on working with livestock operators and conservation groups to aggressively promote the use of non-lethal tactics to avoid wolf-livestock conflict."

The return of the wolf to the Northern Rockies proves that conservation can overcome past actions that extirpated species. The conflicts and challenges that accompany wolf recovery demonstrate that successful restoration of this species will require active management and collaboration between diverse public interests. The fact that both Conservation Northwest and the Washington Cattlemen's Association endorsed the department's decision to remove the original Wedge Pack shows that diverse interests can find common ground. (cs)