Elk NetworkWashington Judge Again Denies Injunction to Halt Removal of Problem Wolves

General | July 28, 2020

A King County Superior Court judge ruled against out-of-state environmentalists and found in favor of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in a case that challenged the 2019 lethal removal of members of the Old Profanity Territory wolf pack.

The pack killed 14 livestock over a 10-month period, nine over a 30-day period and a total of 29 September 5, 2018. The depredations took place even though the livestock producer took proactive, nonlethal, conflict deterrence measures.

The Maryland-based Center for a Humane Economy took credit for seeking the injunction, through two Seattle plaintiffs.

“The Department thanks Judge (John) McHale for his time and close scrutiny in this case,” said Donny Martorello, WDFW wolf policy lead. “We know this was a complex situation and not a simple decision to make, and we respect the time he took to study the materials. We understand this is not the outcome that the petitioners, and likely other individuals, were hoping for. The Department remains committed to working with a diversity of Washington citizens on ways to address wolf-livestock conflict and ultimately reduce the loss of wolves and livestock.”

The judge dismissed injunction requests from the same environmentalists on two previous occasions.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation remains a long-time advocate for state management of gray wolves.

(Photo source: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)