More confirmed depredations in Baker County and Wallowa Counties

BAKER COUNTY – An ODFW livestock depredation investigation report has confirmed more wolf depredations in the Baker County and Wallowa County areas. 

The investigation report can be found below

May 9, 2022 – Wallowa County B (Day Ridge)

Date Investigated: 5/9/22          Cause of death/injury: Confirmed

General situation and animal information: On the morning of 5/9/22, a neighboring producer found a dead, approximately 120 lb. calf in a 9,000-acre U.S. Forest Service grazing allotment. The carcass was largely intact, with only the internal organs and left hind leg missing. The calf was estimated to have died less than 24 hours prior to the investigation.

Physical evidence and summary of findings: Portions of the hide were shaved, and all remaining hide was skinned and examined. Pre-mortem bite scrapes up to ¼ inch wide with underlying hemorrhaging and muscle tissue trauma up to two inches deep were found on both shoulders and the right hind leg above the hock. There were multiple bite scrapes on the neck and throat measuring up to ¼ inch wide with underlying tissue trauma greater than an inch deep. The bite scrape measurements, attack locations, and severity of trauma is consistent with wolf attack injuries on calves. This area is occasionally used by the Wenaha Pack. ODFW will monitor for Wenaha Pack or new wolf activity in this area.

May 9, 2022 – Baker County B (Summit Road area)

Date Investigated: 5/9/22          Cause of death/injury: Confirmed (2); Possible/unknown (1)

General situation and animal information: On the afternoon of 5/8/22, a livestock producer found two injured calves while checking cattle in a 5400-acre BLM public land allotment. The calves were gathered and examined on 5/9/22. The injuries were estimated to be one to two weeks old. A third calf was also examined.

Physical evidence and summary of findings: The areas around the injuries were shaved and examined. Both calves had multiple bite scrapes up to 3/16 inch wide on the inside, rear, and outside of the hindquarters above the hocks with corresponding tissue trauma. The first calf had a two-inch open wound and a swollen lump on the rear of the right hind leg. The second calf had two three-inch open wounds on the inside and outside of the right hind leg above the hock. The bite marks and location, size, and depth of the injuries on the first two calves are consistent with wolf attacks on live calves. These two   attacks appear to be from the same event and were attributed to the Cornucopia Pack. The third calf had a few scrapes down the lower portion of the left hind leg, most below the hock. The third calf lacked sufficient evidence to be able to determine the cause of the scrapes and was classified as “possible/unknown”.

May 7, 2022 – Baker County (Balm Creek)

Date Investigated: 5/7/22         Cause of death/injury: Confirmed

General situation and animal information: On the morning of 5/7/22, a livestock producer found an injured calf while moving cattle in a 1000-acre public land allotment. The calf was six weeks old and weighed approximately 125 lbs. The injuries were estimated to have occurred approximately two weeks prior to the investigation.

Physical evidence and summary of findings: Portions of the hide were shaved and examined. There were multiple bite scrapes on the right hind leg above the hock measuring from one to three inches in length and up to 3/16 inch wide. The left hind leg had a large open bite wound with exposed tissue that measured approximately 7 x 3 1/2 inches in size. The location of the bite marks and injuries to the calf are consistent with wolf attacks on live calves. This depredation was attributed to the Keating Pack.

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