Wolf attacks lead to lethal removal
Published 12:10 pm Monday, July 15, 2024
- A breeding female of the Wenaha Pack was captured on remote camera on U.S. Forest Service land in northern Wallowa County in December 2018. The pack has been active in its attacks on livestock, as have others in Northeast Oregon.
WALLOWA COUNTY — On July 12, because of confirmed wolf attacks on livestock in Wallowa and Umatilla counties, the lethal removal of a wolf has been authorized by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, according to a press release.
This has led to the killing of one wolf killed in Union County and an update on lethal removal authorization issued earlier in Wallowa County.
Other attacks by wolves have been confirmed in Northeastern Oregon.
• On July 9, the Ruckel Ridge Pack in Umatilla County was confirmed to have killed a ewe on public land along Summit Road.
• On July 8, ODFW confirmed that the Bear Creek Pack injured a 4-month-old calf along Bear Creek in Wallowa County.
• On July 7, another 4-month-old calf was injured by a. Wolf from the Bear Creek Pack also along Bear Creek on private land in Wallowa County.
• On July 5, ODFW authorized the USDA Wildlife Services to remove one wolf in the Tower Mountain Pack area of known wolf activity (AKWA) after two confirmed depredations resulted in an injured guardian dog and six dead sheep. This authorization allowed removal on public land only near the affected sheep band. The livestock producer had a herder present with the sheep day and night, livestock guardian dogs, scare devices to reduce conflict and moved the sheep band and herder’s camp after the first conflict.
An adult female was removed on July 10, and no more removals are planned at this time.
Lethal removal actions continue for the chronically depredating wolf or wolves in Wallowa County. Recent depredations west of Lostine are within the Bear Creek Pack AKWA.
• On July 3, ODFW confirmed the Wildcat Pack was responsible for the death of a 4-month-old calf on private land along Grossman Creek in Wallowa County.
• On July 3, ODFW determined as a probable wolf attack by the Balloon Tree Pack on private land along Gordon Creek in Union County resulted in one dead 3-month-old lamb.
• On July 2, ODFW confirmed two separate attacks by the Tower Mountain Pack on public land along Fly Creek in Union County. The first event left one injured livestock protection dog and the second attack left one adult sheep and five lambs dead.
Previous wolf depredations are listed on the ODFW website at https://tinyurl.com/wolf-attacks.
