Should a federal agency be killing coyotes, bears, and beavers?

Wildlife Services is a federal agency that's tasked with killing and dispersing problem animals like predators that are eating ranchers' calves, birds who pose a risk to planes at airports, or even ducks that are eating endangered salmon near dams. Ranchers and farmers call the work necessary, while conservationists see it as inhumane and short sighted.

In 2021, Wildlife Services killed more than 64,000 coyotes, 400 black bears and 24,000 beavers in Washington state.

Ranchers and people working in the agriculture call the agency's work essential.

"They will tell you that by removing coyotes, they're able to significantly decrease losses to their herds," says Colin Tiernan, a reporter for the Spokesman-Review.