Washington wolf status uncertain as pupping season looms

ENDANGERED SPECIES — Washington biologists don’t have a good handle on the state’s fledgling gray wolf population going into the denning season.

Poaching and loss of radio-collared wolves has hindered the monitoring.

Wolves are likely to have another crop of pups in the northeast corner of the state. A breeding pack may be forming in the Blue Mountains.

The biggest unknown is the Methow’s Lookout Pack — which 2 1/2 years ago became the state’s first known breeding pack in 70 years.

Check out this story by Craig Welch of the Seattle Times for an update.