SPOKANE, Wash. — The state of Washington says wolves attacked at least five calves in Ferry County last week, killing one and injuring four.
The attacks occurred Wednesday through Friday in an area once occupied by the Profanity Peak wolf pack, which was nearly wiped out in 2016.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says it is studying the latest attacks and weighing non-lethal ways to prevent future wolf attacks.
Agency director Kelly Susewind says the situation is evolving quickly. The state estimates the pack has three or four adults and two or three pups.
The attacks came days after wildlife officials fatally shot a wolf from the Togo pack in northern Ferry County. That wolf had killed a cow and injured two calves.
Wolves were wiped out in Washington early in the last century, but returned to the state early this century from neighboring areas. Most of the wolves are located in northeastern Washington, where there have been conflicts with ranchers.
There are currently 23 wolf packs in Washington, most of which are located in the northeastern part of the state.
