OLYMPIA — Washington Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind said he hated with “all my mind” Gov. Jay Inslee’s decision to direct the department to develop a rule for killing wolves to protect livestock.

Inslee agrees with wolf advocates that binding regulations should replace non-binding guidance developed by the department’s Wolf Advisory Group.

Although the governor can’t dictate rules to Fish and Wildlife, he can order the department to initiate rule-making, which he did in January at the request of wolf advocates.

‘I hate that decision’

“I hate that decision with all my mind,” Susewind told the commission on Friday. “I don’t get to choose whether I like it or not. My job is to implement it, so I don’t think there’s a ‘don’t do it’ option here.”

At issue is whether Fish and Wildlife should follow the guidance from a group that includes wolf advocates and livestock producers, or cement into regulations the circumstances under which the state can kill wolves.

State wildlife managers say the guidance has served Washington well, balancing as much as possible intense feelings about wolves. Wolf advocates are seeking a rule that prohibits removing wolves from public lands.

Susewind said in an interview Tuesday that the commission just went through lengthy deliberations and decided in October to stick with the protocol.

“I just don’t think it’s a good use of resources. We’ve been through this before,” he said. “It has the potential to drive further division rather than the co-existence we’re shooting for.”

The guidance has withstood several court challenges from wolf advocates, who accuse Fish and Wildlife of being too quick to use lethal control. Rather than having to defend its execution of a rule, the department has deflected the charge by citing the flexible protocol and the department’s duty to control dangerous wildlife.

The protocol sets standards for non-lethal measures and thresholds for predations, but leaves the final decision on lethal control to Susewind. “I haven’t had a situation that wasn’t unique in some way,” he said.

Commission’s vote

The Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 6-3 in October to not adopt a rule, rejecting a petition from wolf advocates. The wolf advocates then appealed to Inslee.

“I think everyone involved will agree that maintaining the integrity of the process is very important,” Inslee spokesman Mike Faulk said Tuesday in an email.

Inslee’s order reopens the issue and repeats a directive he gave in 2020 at the request of wolf advocates. Two years later, the commission voted against adopting a rule.

Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Molly Linville said she was frustrated the department will have to go through the process again. “Am I the only one who remembers the two solid years of hard, hard work?” she asked.

‘Play it straight’

Susewind said in October that the department kills wolves as a last resort and that if anyone has reason to complain about the department’s decision-making, it’s ranchers losing livestock.

During a public comment period Saturday, Washington Wildlife First founder Claire Loebs Davis asked commissioners to be open-minded.

“I sympathize, I really do, that the governor’s order has put you in a very difficult position because you’ve now been instructed to do something that just (three) months ago you didn’t want to do,” she said.

“As humans, making that adjustment in mindset has to be really, really hard, but I suggest it is your responsibility to follow the governor’s order in good faith and just play the system straight,” Loebs Davis said.

“At the end of the day, it will still be your decision whether to accept a rule or not,” she said.