Gray wolves are listed as endangered under state law because they were nearly wiped out a century ago by settlers.
"Wolves are recolonizing our state relatively quickly," Dave Ware, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman, told NBC News. "Managing conflicts is one of the most important objectives for recovery so that people don’t take things into their own hands."
Anyone else see a discrepancy there? Seems to be a discontinuity of thought. If they're protected, what's the rancher supposed to do? Bring them in the house at night? Legally, he is severely limited in what he can do to protect his herd. (A good rifle with a decent night vision weapons sight and a backhoe come to mind...)
I think I heard on the news last night that the rancher and others do have permission to kill the wolves of this pack. But just this pack.
On a somewhat related note, I think the salmon are also on the endangered list. You know, the salmon you can order at the restaurant or pick up at the store. (!?)