Oregon issues second kill permit for wolves after livestock attacks
Zach Urness
State officials will issue a permit allowing an Eastern Oregon rancher to kill one member from a group of wolves blamed for attacking his livestock.
A wolf, or wolves, attacked and killed three calves on the rancher’s Wallowa County land during a three-day period last week, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a news release.
State biologists confirmed the attacks were wolf-related and took place in an area frequented by the Chesnimnus Wolf Pack.
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“As there are no working collars in this group, it is unclear if the wolves involved are new wolves using the area, or remnants of the Chesnimnus Pack,” ODFW said in a news release.
The permit will allow the rancher to kill one wolf on the privately owned pasture he leases, and his adjacent public land allotment.
ODFW also has the authority to kill another wolf if there are more depredations.
"The permit does not identify a specific wolf," said ODFW spokeswoman Michelle Dennehy.
The incident marks the second time this year ODFW has issued a kill permit — or taken lethal action — against wolves in Eastern Oregon.
In April, state officials killed three wolves from the Pine Creek Pack in Baker County after multiple attacks on livestock.
Under state law, livestock producers are required to take non-lethal measures to deter wolf attacks. But if that doesn’t work, lethal action can be taken.
ODFW said the Wallowa County rancher took multiple non-lethal actions to deter wolves, officials said.
After the attacks, ODFW confirmed the injuries as wolf-caused during two investigations on June 13 and 14, the news release said.
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“Removing a wolf is intended to stop further depredations on this producer’s cattle,” the news release said. “Authorizing incremental take and providing a kill permit is typically the first step ODFW takes when livestock producers using non-lethal measures cannot stop losses and ODFW believes depredations will continue.”
Wolf numbers have continued to increase across Oregon, although at a somewhat slow rate. State biologists tallied a minimum of 124 wolves in 12 packs statewide last year, almost all of which reside on the state’s east side.
Wolves are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act on the west side of the state, which generally prohibits killing them, but not on the east side.
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Zach Urness has been an outdoors writer, photographer and videographer in Oregon for 10 years. He is the author of the book “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.