In 2012, after a series of calf and sheep deaths, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife ultimately killed seven members of the Wedge Pack from a helicopter in an attempt to stop the escalating series of attacks.
While it was thought that the entire Wedge Pack was eliminated by WDFW, two wolves were recorded traveling as a pack in the same area in 2013. It is unknown whether these wolves were related to the original Wedge Pack wolves, or if they had moved into the area from elsewhere.
In 2015, 2016, and 2017, three wolves were using the area but were not counted as a breeding pair.
At the end of 2018, the pack still had only three confirmed members and was not counted as a breeding pair.
State data shows one pack member was legally killed in 2019, presumably on Colville Confederated Tribal lands, as no wolf hunting is allowed in Washington state. The 2019-2020 winter count showed three members remain in the pack.
The 2020-2021 winter survey counted a minimum of four wolves for this back, but they were not considered to have a successful breeding pair.
Following a series of livestock predations in 2020, WDFW authorized lethal removal in the Leadpoint, Togo, and Wedge Packs. In total, three wolves (one female yearling, one adult male, and one adult female) were removed from the Wedge pack throughout the authorizing permit’s time-frame.
Current numbers: 4
Pack status: Designated in 2012.
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