Whitman County Gazette - Serving Whitman County since 1877

OLYMPIA – Wolves may be downgraded from an endangered species to “sensitive” under a proposed reclassification by state Department of Fish and Wildlife staff.

The gray wolf was already removed by the federal endangered species list, but the state has maintained the status despite the rapid population growth over the last decade.

The reclassification comes with the required five-year review of endangered, threatened and sensitive species in the state.

"This draft recommended reclassification to sensitive reflects that progress and most accurately describes the current status of wolves...