Reward Tops $20,000 For Information Leading To Conviction In Killing Of 2 Washington Wolves

OPB

The Center For Biological Diversity and Cascadia Wildlands have increased a reward to $20,000 for information leading to the conviction in the killing of two wolves last month in Northeast Washington.

The groups also called for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to step up its law enforcement efforts to investigate poaching incidents in both Washington and Oregon.

“Poaching wolves or other wildlife is a deplorable crime,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center. “We need people to come forward and help put a stop to the killing of these endangered animals.”

The two wolves killed were part of the Smackout and Dirty Shirt packs.

Information on their loss and a $10,000 reward were issued by Conservation Northwest on Saturday.

These killings follow the poaching of three other Oregon wolves over the past several months. Wolf populations in both Washington and Oregon remain small and poaching could have a serious impact on their continued recovery.

“Poaching represents a real threat to the recovery of Wilson Washington and elsewhere on the West Coast,” said Nick Cady, legal director of Cascadia Wildlands. “It’s time for the federal and state law enforcement to meaningfully act, and catch and prosecute these lawless poachers.”

Following a government-sponsored campaign of poisoning, shooting, and killing, wolves were wiped out from all lower 48 states except a small corner of North-East Minnesota.

With protection under the Endangered Species Act, wolves have made a comeback in portions of their range. They began returning to Washington and Oregon in the past 10 years or so, now numbering between 100 and 150 animals in the state.

Please contact The Center For Biological Diversity or Cascadia Wildlands with any Information leading to the conviction of the wolf killers.