Endangered wolf pack to be killed after cows found dead

An entire pack of endangered wolves in Washington was approved for elimination after it was linked to ongoing attacks on cows, notes NBCNews.

A press release issued by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife last week reveals that the authorization applies to the Profanity Peak wolf pack which is believed to consist of at least five pups and six adults.

In mid-July the animals were found to be responsible for the deaths or injuries of at least six cows.

Consequently, the wildlife officials were given the go ahead to kill limited members of the pack.

Click through for photos of wolf packs:

The release explained that as part of the directive, the officials "...shot two pack members [on] Aug. 5, but announced an end to wolf-removal efforts after two weeks passed without finding any more evidence of wolf predation on cattle."

However, since that time, three calves have been found dead or injured so the removal operation has been expanded and reinstated.

While some lawmakers and conservationists have expressed concern over the killing of these endangered animals, fish and wildlife officials say they "have a shared responsibility to protect livestock from repeated depredation by wolves."