The Profanity Peak Pack was located on the north half of the Colville Confederated Tribe’s historic reservation and was co-managed by the Tribe and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).
A significant impact to the Profanity Peak wolf pack occurred in late summer, early fall 2016. The following information and content is from WDFW’s post-action Report on the Profanity Peak wolf pack’s 2016 lethal removal action:
Per a grazing allotment with the U.S. Forest Service within the Colville National Forest, two Producers turned out their cattle to their allotted area in June 2017. On July 8, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) confirmed the first wolf depredation on cattle.
Depredations continued in July and on “August 3, WDFW staff investigated and confirmed the fourth and fifth wolf depredations by the Profanity Peak pack, bringing the total depredations to five confirmed and three probable livestock losses – exceeding the threshold established in the protocol for considering lethal removal of wolves. After determining that all of the other criteria had been met, WDFW Director Jim Unsworth accepted the recommendation from the Regional Director and authorized lethal removal of a portion of the pack.”
The WDFW initiated aerial removal operations of wolves on August 4 and on August 5, two adult female wolves were shot and killed (including the breeding female) by WDFW staff. On August 19, a total of 7 confirmed wolf depredations on cattle were reported. At this time, the WDFW Director authorized removing up to the full pack, with the recognition that removing an entire pack is extremely challenging. On August 21, one adult male wolf was lethally removed.
On August 22, three wolves were lethally removed (one female pup and an adult male and an adult female wolf). On September 28, one adult male was lethally removed after the ninth confirmed wolf depredation on cattle on September 27. On October 3, WDFW reported the tenth confirmed wolf depredation on cattle since July 8. At this time there were a total of 15 depredations, 10 confirmed and five probable. On October 19, WDFW ended the wolf-removal action. Consistent with the lethal removal protocol, a total of seven wolves were lethally removed. As of December 2016, there were one remaining female wolf and three juvenile wolves.
Although wolves are an endangered species according to Washington law, under the Washington Wolf Plan and Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocol, the state may kill wolves that are believed to be members of a pack that predates on livestock within a specified frequency and interval.
In June 2017, 64f, the adult female, dispersed to British Columbia and part of Ferry County, WA, before being killed by a human in November 2017. The cause of death was under investigation, and at the end of 2017, the pack had no confirmed members.
In 2018, biologists confirmed wolves were again using the area, and formed a new pack called the OPT Pack (for “Old Profanity Territory”). It was unknown whether any of these wolves were related to the Profanity Peak wolves.
Current numbers: 0
Pack status: Designated in 2014. No longer in existence.
Useful Links
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife – Profanity Peak
