Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is intensively investigating photographs and reports of wolves in North Central Washington. But so far the agency says there’s no proof yet that a pack of wolves has taken up residence in the state. Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

The photographs -- published this week -- show what appear to be individual wolves near Twisp, Washington.

The images were captured by a camera placed in the woods in the Methow Valley. But whether these are transient wolves moving through the area or evidence of a resident pack is not known.

Jeff Koenings heads the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. He says his agency has a new genetic testing kit. He says the first step is to determine if these are wild gray wolves or a hybrid species.

Jeff Koenings: “The next question is: is he here today or gone tomorrow or is he actually here to stay. That’s the big question. That’s what was put on the table by this sighting.”

If  a lone wolf has taken up residence in Washington State that would be significant. It would be even more significant if a breeding pair was living in Washington.

Koenings says both are possibilities, Washington has not had resident wolves since the 1930s.