Learn more

(The Center Square) – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has decided not to change the endangered species status of gray wolves in the state. In a pair of 5-4 votes on Friday, the commission rejected the recommendation of the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to downlist the wolves to either “threatened” or “sensitive.” Downlisting the wolves would have meant lesser penalties for poaching, as well as somewhat easier access to permits to kill wolves that attack livestock. Ahead of the vote, Julia Smith, endangered species recovery manager at WDFW, told members of the state Fish …