Publish date
May 29, 2026
This is an update for the Aladdin Valley Area wolf conflict following the lethal removal authorization by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Kelly Susewind on May 22, 2026. As of today, WDFW has not removed a wolf despite daily and continued efforts. This afternoon, Director Susewind directed staff to end lethal removal efforts and transition to an evaluation period. Lethal removal will be reconsidered if another depredation occurs.
On May 22, 2026, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind authorized the lethal removal of one wolf from the Aladdin valley in response to repeated cattle depredations in this northern Stevens County area. The authorization is consistent with the guidance of the state’s Wolf Conservation and Management Plan (PDF) and the lethal removal provisions of the Department’s wolf-livestock interaction protocol (PDF).
Since May 17, 2026, WDFW staff in cooperation with the Stevens and Ferry Counties Wildlife Specialist documented a total of three depredation events, resulting in one dead and two injured calves in this area. This depredation area is used by multiple overlapping wolf packs, and the department could not identify the pack responsible for those depredations, at that time. Following the depredations, WDFW staff deployed non-lethal deterrents in the form of traps and turbo-fladry in the affected area to minimize further depredations. The turbo-fladry will remain in the area until the producers request its removal.
On the morning of May 22, and prior to the lethal removal authorization, WDFW staff trapped, radio-collared, and released an adult male wolf near the depredation site. After that capture, there was no documented additional wolf activity in that area. The newly collared wolf traveled to the Onion Creek wolf pack territory and was photographed traveling with at least two other adult gray wolves in that territory. The department has concluded that this wolf is a member of the ‘Onion Creek wolf pack’ and has attributed the abovementioned depredations to that pack.
Since no additional depredations have been documented in this area or this pack territory since May 18, the department is now entering an evaluation period when staff will continue to monitor the situation. Lethal removal will be considered again if another depredation occurs in the “Onion Creek wolf pack territory area” or associated with this radio-collared wolf.
Aladdin Valley Area Wolf Conflict Update | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife