The number of wolves roaming Washington is higher than official estimates, according to University of Washington researchers.
Samuel Wasser, of UW’s Center for Conservation Biology, presented the findings of a two-year study using scat-sniffing dogs to Washington Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources and Parks committee Tuesday.
In one study area in Stevens and Pend Oreille counties, Wasser said his dogs detected 68 individual wolves between 2015-16 and 95 individual wolves in the 2016-17 season.
“This is quite a bit higher than the minimum number that WDFW had (for the same area),” he told the committee.
According to the latest Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife estimate, there are a minimum of 122 wolves, 22 packs and 14 successful breeding pairs statewide. That estimate was reported nearly a year ago.
Although Wasser hasn’t completed a statewide survey…
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Exposing the Big Game 
I don’t believe it. This state is looking for anything and everything in order to delist wolves from protection. Any reason to imply that the wolf population is higher than it actually is. One politician, I can’t remember his name and can’t really be bothered either because it’s the same old, same old story, is convinced that more wolves are hiding out in the Cascades, I think it was. Prove it.
I’d prefer actual numbers, not speculation and guestimates, not handmaidens to ranchers..
“Although Wasser hasn’t completed a statewide survey, he said it’s quite possible that the population of wolves is closer to 200 animals.”
Surprise! *eyeroll* This falls under fake and dangerous news.
It’s just that the very few people who follow the plight of carnivores have seen these tactics over and over, in order to delist and start killing again. This time it’s trying to blind us with science.
What happened to the mediator? Chewed up and spit out, I suppose. This poor woman has no idea what she’s up against, from either side. If it was that easy, to ‘go out to the local bar and talk about it over lattes and beer’ or some rubbish like that, it would have been done already. 😦