Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington wildlife officials say they have evidence of a new breeding pair of wolves in the northeastern corner of the state. It would be only the second pair to take up residence in Washington.  Correspondent Doug Nadvornick reports.

Biologist Scott Fisher from the Department of Natural Resources says he and two colleagues were out looking for wolves in Pend Oreille County one recent night.

He says they pulled out a big speaker and played sounds of howling wolves into the dark.

Scott Fisher: “We got an adult to respond to the howl and, shortly after the adult started howling, all these puppies joined in. They are very kind of yippy and yappy and, you know, trying their best to imitate the howl of the adult, but not really doing a very good job of it.”

One of Fisher's remote cameras also recently caught images of two adult wolves. One was a nursing mother, leading him to conclude there's a breeding pair in residence.

Fisher says the animals likely came from Montana or Canada and aren't part of the wolves that were reintroduced into Idaho.

Fisher says these animals are no longer on the federal Endangered Species list, but are protected by the state.