Gray wolf captured in N.E. Washington, taken to wolf sanctuary

OLYMPIA — State wildlife officials say a gray wolf that had gotten too comfortable around people has been captured in northeast Washington and taken to a wolf sanctuary south of Olympia.

The female was captured on Wednesday near Ione, a small town in Pend Oreille County where she had been living near people, livestock and domestic dogs in recent months.

Wildlife officials have been trying to trap her for months. She is the last known member of the Ruby Creek Pack.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Dave Ware says they were worried she would breed with a domestic dog and produce wolf-dog hybrids in the wild. He says putting wolves in captivity isn’t always the answer, but it made sense in this case.

The wolf was spayed and taken to the Wolf Haven International sanctuary in Tenino. The group’s director says the animal is healthy.