๐๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ช๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ค๐๐จ๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐พ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ in ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐พ๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ฎ
By Paul Hall on Thursday, December 2nd, 2021 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ – (๐๐ฏ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ท๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐บ ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ฆ ๐๐ฐ๐ญ๐ช๐ค๐ฆ)The Oregon State Police is seeking public assistance in locating the person or persons responsible for the poisoning of the Catherine Wolf Pack in eastern Oregon.
On February 9, 2021, Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division Troopers received information from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) regarding a possibly deceased, collared wolf. Troopers responded to the area and located five deceased wolves, three males, and two females. It was later determined the wolves were from the Catherine Pack, with all known members present and deceased. The wolves were located southeast of Mount Harris, within Union County. Fish and Wildlife Troopers and ODFW personnel with the assistance of a helicopter searched the area for anything of evidentiary value. An additional deceased magpie was also found in the vicinity of the deceased wolves.
The five wolves and magpie were collected and transported to the US Fish and Wildlife Service Forensics Lab located in Ashland, Oregon to determine the cause of death.
On March 11, 2021, Fish and Wildlife Troopers again received information from ODFW personnel of an additional wolf collar emitting a mortality signal in the same general location. A search of the area located a deceased female wolf, a skunk, and a magpie all very close to the scene. All animals were collected and immediately submitted to the USFWS lab for testing. The female wolf was dispersing from the Keating Pack.
Fish and Wildlife Troopers were initially hampered in investigating the scene due to snow levels and inclement weather. Troopers continued searching over the next few weeks as snow continued to melt and located evidence of suspected poisoning. The evidence was submitted for testing and analysis.
In April 2021, the USFWS submitted their examination reports with findings consistent with poisoning as the cause of death for all six wolves, the skunk, and two magpies. Lab results also indicated the suspected evidence confirmed a poisonous substance.
In addition, two more collared wolves were found deceased in Union County after the initial incidents. In April 2021, a deceased adult male wolf from the Five Points Pack was located west of Elgin and in July 2021, a young female wolf from the Clark Creek Pack was located northeast of La Grande. In both cases the cause of death was not readily apparent, a necropsy and testing were conducted. Toxicology reports confirmed the presence of different types of poison in both wolves. Based upon the type of poison and locations, it was determined the death of the young female wolf may be related to the earlier six poisonings.
Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Troopers have continued in their investigation in the intervening months but have exhausted leads in the case. OSP is asking any person with information related to this investigation to contact the Oregon State Police through the OSP TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP (677) or TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us. Please reference Case #SP21-033033.
