The Washington State proposed Wolf management plan--Backround and July 2011 Update(click on links below for a full read of the updated plan)

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<>  Washington State Gray Wolf Conservation and Management The gray wolf is an endangered species throughout Washington under state law and is endangered under federal law in the western two-thirds of the state. Wolves were once common throughout most of Washington, but declined rapidly from being aggressively killed during the expansion of ranching and farming between 1850 and 1900. Wolves were essentially eliminated as a breeding species from the state by the 1930s, although infrequent reports of animals continued in the following decades, suggesting that small numbers of individuals continued to disperse into Washington from neighboring states and British Columbia. Reliable reports of wolves have been increasing in Washington since 2005 due in part to the recent recovery of wolf populations in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Washington now has a small breeding population of wolves in the initial stages of recovery. The state's first fully confirmed wolf pack in many years was discovered in Okanogan County in 2008. This was followed by the discovery of single additional packs in Pend Oreille County in 2009 and 2010. In July 2011 packs were confirmed in both Kittitas and Stevens Counties. In 2007, in response to the expected return of wolves and the state management responsibility following federal delisting (as well as state law WAC 232-12-297 requirements), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) began developing a conservation and management plan for the species. The plan addresses two major issues: (1) recovery objectives and strategies for downlisting and delisting wolves at the state level, and (2) management strategies to reduce and address wolf-livestock conflicts.  Development of the plan in ongoing. The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Recommended plan has been completed and will be presented to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission for consideration in August 2011. For more information, see: Wolf Plan Development Process and Archive <>  <>  <>  <>  July 2011 Update FINAL RECOMMENDED WOLF PLAN Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan for Washington Other information ·         Wolf Plan Development Timeline ·         Public Comments Received ·         Blind Peer Review Comments <>  <>  <>  <>  <>             <> <>  Toll-free Wolf Reporting Hotline for Washington 1-888-584-9038 More Contact Numbers and Information <><><> <><> <><><> <><> <><><> Interested in receiving notices about wolf plan review? Sign up here