Washington county authorizes action against wolves

Ferry County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution Friday authorizing the sheriff’s office to kill the remaining nine members of a wolf pack in the northeastern Washington county, if state wildlife officials don’t resume shooting wolves.  “That pack of wolves needs to be gone,” Commissioner Mike Blankenship said. “I feel the sheriff has that power and that obligation as much as he would with a wild dog out there.” The Department of Fish and Wildlife halted the search Thursday for the Profanity Peak pack 13 days after shooting two adult female wolves from a helicopter. Four adults and five pups survive. It may not be necessary. WDFW says it will resume hunting for the Profanity Peak pack if more depredations occur. If the county targets wolves, it would test WDFW’s jurisdiction over the state’s wildlife.