Below is a news release from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
A a King County Superior Court judge dismissed a lawsuit against the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife that prevented WDFW from carrying out a lethal removal operation in October 2025 in the Sherman wolf pack territory.
WDFW moved to dismiss the case, and a hearing on that motion was set for January 16, 2026. The litigants and other parties involved in the lawsuit did not respond to that motion, and instead voluntarily requested dismissal, which WDFW did not oppose. An order of dismissal was signed Jan. 13, 2026, eliminating the need for a hearing.
The lethal removal authorization expired while awaiting a hearing. The last documented depredation in this pack territory took place on Oct. 23, 2025.
WDFW previously published updates on this case on Oct. 31, 2025,and Oct. 14, 2025.
(Photo credit: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)