ASOTIN COUNTY, Wash. — A new wolf pack in the corner of southeast Washington killed at least two calves and probably killed another on private ground in Asotin County, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

A rancher reported finding three dead calves May 21, Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Staci Lehman said Friday, June 2. Department investigators found evidence to confirm wolves killed two of the calves. The third calf was too decomposed to determine the cause of death, Lehman said.

While on the property, investigators found a fourth dead calf and concluded it was probably killed by wolves, she said.

The department attributed the attacks to an unnamed pack that formed after a wolf split from the Tucannon pack. The wolf is wearing a radio collar that enables the department to track its movements.

Fish and Wildlife counted the predations as one strike against the pack because they are believed to have occurred at the same time. The department considers lethal control after three strikes in 30 days or four strikes in 10 months.

Prior to the predations, the rancher was guarding against attacks by wolves with lights, carcass sanitation and by watching the cattle and putting them in smaller pastures, Lehman said. “They’ve already been working hard on this,” she said.