Ferry County Commissioner Brian Dansel is asking the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to share collar tracking data of the nine wolf packs in the eastern part of the state.

Dansel said in a press release he was concerned when a department employee mentioned a collared wolf had been tracked around the Republic, Wash., area.

"This is very concerning, as the economy and public safety of the area needs to be considered as the wolves become more numerous and more mobile," Dansel said. "We do not want to respond to a call that wolves are stalking kids at the bus stop or attacking livestock or pets."

Ferry County, which is in northeastern Washington, has had to address public safety issues caused by a large cougar population in the last 20 years.

The county had to take lethal measures, and Dansel said the wolf may require the same kind of response. He called for immediate delisting of the wolf as an endangered species under the state law to give landowners more ability to protect themselves and their property.

"The best way to prevent this is to recognize this animal no longer needs any special protections," he said. "But our citizens will likely need protected from it."

Dansel, a Republican, is running in Washington's 7th Senate District. John Smith, a Republican, currently holds the seat. The election will be in November.

-- Matthew Weaver