In brief: Fourth wolf pack identified by state

State wildlife officials have documented Washington’s fourth wolf pack, the Teanaway Pack of Kittitas County.

DNA tests of an adult female wolf caught and radio collared last month confirmed the animal is a wild gray wolf. The wolf was lactating, indicating she was nursing pups. Biologists are monitoring the wolf’s activity through the tracking collar.

Before the Teanaway Pack, there were an estimated 25 resident wolves in Washington.

Gray wolves are making a comeback in Washington decades after being trapped and hunted to near extinction. Gray wolves are protected as endangered species throughout Washington state. The animal is also federally protected in the western two-thirds of the state.

The state’s three other packs roam in Okanogan and Pend Oreille counties.

Associated Press

Vail says rumors made him quit

OLYMPIA – Washington’s former secretary of corrections says he had an extramarital affair with a subordinate.

Eldon Vail told the Seattle Times on Tuesday that he abruptly left his job last week after learning of a video that apparently showed him and the employee leaving a motel near Olympia. He said he heard rumors that the video may be made public, so he decided his only choice was to resign.

Vail said the relationship was inappropriate and that he is trying to work it out with his wife. He declined to discuss the employee or say how long their relationship lasted.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Chris Gregoire said there is no investigation planned into the video or affair.

Associated Press

Bear killed after attack on jogger

A small black bear was killed the day after a woman was attacked while she was jogging Thursday east of Colville.

The 36-year-old woman surprised a bear while jogging. She fell to the ground and was batted around by the bear, but was not seriously injured. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officers brought in a houndsman who released dogs near the site of the incident.

“Very shortly they spooked up a couple of bears,” said Madonna Luers, department spokeswoman. “One was estimated at 140 pounds. The other, about 70 pounds, turned on the dogs and handler, so they took it out.”

It’s not clear whether that was the bear that was aggressive toward the woman, she said.

Rich Landers