Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to vote on moving wolves off endangered species list

WASHINGTON - The state of Washington's gray wolf population may no longer be considered an endangered species.

On Friday, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to vote whether to down list the gray wolf off the endangered species list. It would instead be moved to a sensitive species.

"It's not a delisting," explained Paula Swedeen, policy director for Conservation Northwest.

Swedeen works with Conservation Northwest with a focus on wolf policy. She said it's time for this to happen as the population of gray wolves has drastically grown.

With that growth, some think it's time to delist completely.

"I think it's about time," said Kathy McKay, owner of K Diamond K Guest Ranch in Republic. "Why they were ever there to begin with is beyond me."

McKay said wolves killed hundreds of her animals.

"They're killing machines," she said.

McKay caught a wolf last year, but had to release it because of state policies. Her frustration now is through the roof.

"I'm done calling them. They can't do anything," she said.

Also in agreement are Jim Wentland and Matt Schneider, the presidents of the Spokane and Lincoln County Cattlemen respectively.

"Our biggest issue with it right now is that their protocol for wolf removal takes too long," Schneider said.

One thing in agreement by cattlemen and Conservation Northwest, it's time for a new protocol.

"If we can maintain and improve the systems in place where wolves are not felt as an undue burden to the livestock producer community," Swedeen said.

Swedeen believes if we can reduce the negative perspective of wolves, it will prevent the species from being poached and hunted.

Yet not everyone agrees with Conservation Northwest's position. Washington Wildlife First sent 4 News Now a statement, saying in part, "The current science and data supporting this proposal are flawed and incomplete, risking the extinction of wolves in Washington."

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