Depredations investigated by ODFW
By Paul Hall on Friday, November 26th, 2021 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
UNION/WALLOWA COUNTY – (Information provided by ODFW)
November 20, 2021 – Union County (Cabin Creek area)
Date Investigated: 11/20/2021
Cause of death/injury: Confirmed
General situation and animal information: The morning of 11/20/2021 a ranch owner found two deceased ~150 lb. adult sheep in his private land 680-acre pasture. The ranch owner let the sheep owner know that the sheep had wandered on to his ranch. The carcass of one ewe was intact with all muscle tissue remaining, the second ewe had muscle tissue at the neck and head and most of the hide remaining. It was estimated that the sheep died on the night of 11/18/2021. Physical evidence and summary of findings: The ewes were skinned and examined. Premortem hemorrhage was found on hide or muscle tissue on both sheep on the neck and above the hocks on each hind leg, with some hemorrhage one to two inches deep in muscle tissue. A canine bite spacing two inches apart with scrapes ¼ inch wide were found on the hide of one sheep. Two GPS locations placed the breeding female of the Balloon Tree Pack within 150 and 400 yards of both carcasses overnight on 11/18/2021. The bite scrape size, depth of tissue trauma, location of injuries, and coordinates of wolf activity are consistent with the depredation of these sheep by wolves. This depredation on two sheep is attributed to the Balloon Tree Pack.
November 19, 2021-Union County (Cabin Creek area)
Date Investigated: 11/19/2021
Cause of death/injury: Confirmed
General situation and animal information: The evening of 11/18/2021 a producer found two injured and four deceased female goats in a 44-acre private land grass pasture within 400 yards of his house. The dead goats (3 adults, 1 yearling) ranged in weight from 30-50 lbs. Very little tissue remained on two of the carcasses, the other two were intact. A 30 lb. yearling had an injured right hindquarter, and a younger 20 lb. goat had a back injury. The estimated date and time of the deaths and injuries was the early morning of 11/18/2021. Physical evidence and summary of findings: The four deceased goats were shaved, skinned, and examined. Tooth punctures ¼ inch diameter corresponding with pre-mortem hemorrhage with depth ranging from 1-2 inches was observed on all four carcasses. The locations of the premortem injuries were found on the throat, hindquarters above hocks, near elbows, and on back. One live goat had two ¼ inch tooth punctures on the left side of back. The other goat had bite wounds to the upper right hind leg. The Balloon Tree Pack breeding female’s GPS radio-collar data placed her inside the pasture at 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. the same morning the goats were attacked. The locations and depth of injuries are consistent with wolf depredations. This confirmed depredation on six goats is attributed to the Balloon Tree Pack.
November 17, 2021 – Wallowa County (City of Wallowa)
Date Investigated: 11/17/21
Cause of death/injury: Other
General situation and animal information: On the morning of 11/17/2021, a dog owner found the body of their 3-year-old, 65-pound german shepherd near the house in a privately-owned fenced-in yard. The carcass was fully intact. The dog was estimated to have died 8-12 hours prior to the investigation. Physical evidence and summary of findings: The majority of the carcass was shaved, skinned, and examined. There were several pre-mortem bite wounds on both sides of the neck and throat measuring up to ¼ inch in diameter with hemorrhaging in muscle tissue approximately one inch deep. There was an open wound behind the left ear. Both front legs had pre-mortem puncture wounds near elbows with hemorrhaging in muscle tissue approximately one inch deep. The size and location of the tooth wounds are consistent with domestic dog attacks on dogs. The death of the dog is not wolf related.
