The state's plans to kill a wolf in northeast Washington are off after a court sided with environmentalists seeking to block the action.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Tuesday evening that a King County Superior Court commissioner had granted a temporary restraining order blocking the agency's efforts to kill a wolf from the Sherman Pack in Ferry County.
Last Thursday, WDFW Deputy Director Amy Windrope authorized the removal in response to recent attacks on cattle. The authorization, which had yet to result in the death of a wolf, was set to expire Wednesday.
Washington Wildlife First, Predator Defense and the Kettle Range Conservation Group filed a petition with the King County Superior Court on Friday asking the court to withdraw the kill order and prevent WDFW from killing any other wolves.
In their petition, the groups argue the livestock producers affected by the wolves hadn't done enough to keep their cattle from being attacked. They also noted that WDFW had already killed a wolf from the pack in August and argued that removing another could endanger the pack's survival.
On Tuesday, the group requested the temporary restraining order to keep WDFW from taking action until the case is heard. A hearing was held in the afternoon. Court Commissioner Mark Hillman issued the restraining order after the hearing.
The groups cheered the decision in a news release Tuesday evening. Francisco J. Santiago-Avila, the science and advocacy director for Washington Wildlife First, said the group was gratified the court stopped WDFW from carrying out an "unethical, inhumane, and unscientific order in time to save what remains of the Sherman wolf family."
The order lasts through Oct. 28, which is when a hearing is scheduled on the environmental groups' petition.
The Sherman Pack has been responsible for a half-dozen attacks on cattle in the past 10 months, according to WDFW. During the agency's minimum count this winter, biologists found the pack consisted of at least five wolves, including a breeding pair.
In August, following the death of three calves and the injury of two others, WDFW killed an adult female from the pack. The agency's announcement said the livestock producer had been using non-lethal wolf deterrence measures, such as range riding.
Washington Wildlife First denounced that killing in a news release. The group's statement said it was the 36th wolf WDFW had killed on behalf of the family that runs the Diamond M Ranch.
The most recent incidents took place on Sept. 28 and Oct. 1. Washington Wildlife First said in its news release Tuesday that the attacks were again on cattle belonging to the Diamond M Ranch.
WDFW said in a news release that the final decision to kill the wolf came from the agency's deputy director because Director Kelly Susewind was out of the office at the time.
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