Confirmed wolf depredation in Keating area of Baker County

By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories

BAKER COUNTY – (Release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)

April 30, 2021 – Baker County (Keating area)

Date Investigated: 4/30/21

Cause of death/injury: Confirmed (2)

General situation and animal information: On the morning of 4/30/21, two dead 2-month-old calves were found by hunters on a large public land allotment. The producer and ODFW were notified and ODFW investigated the scene. Both calves were estimated to have died late on 4/29/21 or early on 4/30/21.

Physical evidence and summary of findings: The scene at both calves showed clear evidence of attack by a predator. The scene showed blood on vegetation from a standing animal and wolf tracks present throughout. Both animals had pre-mortem tooth scrapes up to approximately ¼” wide with associated muscle tissue bruising under the hide, including at the elbows and flanks. Associated underlying muscle trauma extended at least 1 1/2” deep. The location, size, number, and direction of tooth scrapes and severe underlying muscle tissue trauma are consistent with wolf attack injuries on calves. The incident is attributed to the Keating Pack.