Washington's ranchers and wolves both need a better plan than another round of killing. This week, the director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved killing wolves from the Couse pack in southeastern Washington a few at a time. The public notice gives no number and no end date. It is the second kill order aimed at this pack in recent weeks.

The losses for ranchers are real. The state has recorded at least seven attacks on livestock by Couse pack wolves over the past 10 months, and four animals died. Two livestock owners have been affected. Those families deserve help that actually protects their herds.

The first kill did not end the problem. WDFW killed an adult male wolf on Sept. 17, and the state says at least one wolf from the pack has attacked livestock again since then. Gray wolves are listed as endangered under Washington law everywhere in the state, and WDFW's yearly count found at least five wolves in this pack last December.

WDFW has said nonlethal options are not a fit for this situation. But tools like range riders who watch over herds, flagged fencing, guard animals and night lights are built to keep wolves away from livestock without killing a protected species. Those tools take money, trained staff and time, and ranchers should not have to cover that cost alone.

The Washington State Legislature and WDFW should expand funding and hands-on support for nonlethal deterrents in wolf country, so ranchers have real options before any new kill order is signed.

Sign the petition to tell Washington leaders to fund real solutions for ranchers and wolves before more of a state-endangered species is lost.