2025 Wolf Report highlights ongoing wolf activity in Eastern Oregon
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
NORTHEAST OREGON – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently released its 2025 Annual Wolf Report, providing an overview of Oregon’s wolf population and depredation trends. While the 11-page report focuses on the entirety of the state, key data is included on wolf activity in Oregon’s easternmost regions. For reference, the full report can be read at: https://dfw.state.or.us/Wolves/docs/oregon_wolf_program/2025_Annual_Wolf_Report_FINAL_260417.pdf
According to the executive summary, Oregon’s wolf population was at a minimum 230 as of December 31, 2025, up from 204 in 2024, an increase of 13%. The West Wolf Management zone largely remains under the federal endangered species and Phase-1 management, while the East Wolf Management Zone is largely managed under Phase-3 due to exceeding the minimum seven recorded breeding pairs. Note that a portion of the east region still remains under the federal EA listing.
The majority, 62%, of Oregon wolves, as of December 31, 2025, lie within the East Wolf Management Zone, while the remaining 38% reside in the west. Packs confirmed in the east zone as of the end of 2025, and their size, are as follows:
- Arbuckle Pack 6
- Keating wolves 2
- Pearson Creek Pack 5
- Balloon Tree Pack 6
- Kuhn Ridge Pack 11
- Peavine Pack 6
- Bear Creek wolves 1
- Light Ridge Pack 4
- Ruckel Ridge Pack 6
- Black Pines Pack 7
- Logan Valley wolves
- 2 Snake River Pack 4
- Clark Creek Pack 6
- Middle Fork Pack 11
- Tower Mtn Pack 7
- Desolation Pack 4
- Minam Pack 4
- Ukiah Pack 6
- Finley Ridge Pack 4
- Noregaard wolves 2
- Wenaha Pack 9
- Five Points Pack 5
- Northside wolves 3
- Wildcat Pack 7
- Jarboe Pack 6
- Ochoco wolves 2
- other wolves/pairs 6
Note, for anyone familiar with prior wolf depredations, the Grouse Flats Pack is not counted in Oregon’s native packs or wolf numbers due to the pack being denned, and spending the majority of its time, in Washington. The pack’s depredations are still counted toward Oregon’s total, however.
Regarding depredations, ODFW confirmed 106 livestock depredation events in 2025, 19 in the west zone, and the majority, 87, in the east zone. As written by ODFW:
“Confirmed depredation events increased from 69 in 2024 to 106 in 2025. Confirmed livestock deaths in 2025 were ten cows, 77 calves, eight sheep, one goat and one livestock working dog (Figure 6). Eleven cows, 27 calves, one goat, and two livestock working dogs were confirmed as injured by wolves. Sixteen cattle and 1 mule had probable determinations.”
Of the 87 eastern depredations (compared to 58 in 2024) 36 occurred in the federally protected areas, and the remainder in the non-federal/easternmost areas. Sheep depredation reportedly decreased compared to 2024 (two events compared to eight events) while confirmed cattle deaths increased 52 percent compared to the previous highest year in 2023.
Overall, eastern depredations were split between twenty-two groups of wolves, along with two individual wolves, in ten counties. The majority of eastern depredations, 71%, occurred specifically in Morrow, Umatilla, and Wallowa counties.
All lethal depredations reported in 2025 occurred within the eastern zone. According to ODFW, twelve lethal removals were authorized, with 20 wolves being lethally removed from the following packs/groups:
- Bear Creek-5
- Bear Valley-1
- Frazier-2
- Kuhn Ridge-5
- Light Ridge-1
- Logan Valley-2
- Pearson Creek-2
- Wallupa-2
Of the lethal removals, 17 were carried out by ODFW or federal wildlife services, while three were taken by livestock producers with limited duration permits. In addition, three wolves were lawfully killed by producers due to being caught in the act of attacking livestock, two from the Five Points pack, and one from the Wallupa Pack.
Lastly, regarding compensation, ODFW awarded $729,318 to 14 counties in 2025, a seven percent increase from 2024. The majority, 84%, of these funds were used for non-lethal preventative and deterrent measures, while the remainder covered compensation for probable and confirmed livestock depredation. Per changes in Oregon policy, missing livestock are no longer compensated for, but future depredations will include a compensation multiplier.
The single highest funded county, both for depredation compensation and preventative measures, was Wallowa County, at $94,166, $44,970 covered depredations, and $41,196 covered prevention, while a further $1,000 covered admin costs.
The next most funded county was Grant County at $74,096, followed by Union County at $69,176 (the majority of which was prevention costs).
The full compensation table is attached below:
Again, the full 2025 wolf report can be found at: https://dfw.state.or.us/Wolves/docs/oregon_wolf_program/2025_Annual_Wolf_Report_FINAL_260417.pdf
