Authorities are looking for leads in two separate wolf-poaching incidents.
Officials with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are turning to the public for help in figuring out two poaching cases regarding gray wolves in two different counties. Conservation Northwest is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in either case.
Wolves are still federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, despite efforts to change that over the last few years.
The first was a radio-collared female wolf in Ferry County. The wolf was found dead 15 miles southwest of Republic. Authorities suspected something was wrong when the collar suddenly stopped transmitting in November.
On Dec. 5, WDFW personnel subsequently found the wolf dead. The wolf was previously a member of the well-known "Profanity Peak" pack, but wasn't associated with the pack when it died.
The second poaching case involves a female wolf carcass hunters found Nov. 12 in Stevens County. Authorities believe the animal was a member of the Dirty Sheet pack because it was found within the pack's range.
If the person or persons responsible for either poaching are caught, they could face up to a year in jail and $5,000 in fines.
Officials urge anyone with information on either case to contact the WDFW at either 877-933-9847 or 360-902-2936.
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