SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is seeking changes in how the state deals with problem wolves in Ferry County, in an effort to reduce the number of gray wolves that are being killed.

The Democrat sent a letter to the Department of Fish and Wildlife on Monday saying that the state’s wolf management plan does not appear to be working in the Kettle River Range area of Ferry County.

The state in recent years has killed some two dozen wolves in that area that were preying on livestock. That has outraged wolf advocates who contend the state is repeatedly shooting wolves living in prime habitat

Inslee asked the agency to devise a new management approach in the Kettle River Range and report back to him by Dec. 1.