ODFW Investigates Livestock Death and Reclassifies Wolf Packs
By Garrett Christensen on Monday, April 3rd, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
UNION COUNTY – (Information from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)
CORRECTION- This incident was not a confirmed depredation.
According to ODFW the determination was that this incident was “OTHER” meaning “Cause of livestock deaths should be classified as other when it is discovered that the cause of death was not likely caused by the animal originally reported to Wildlife Services during a request for assistance. Examples of other may include cases where the cause of death is confirmed or is likely due to predation by some other animal or cause determined at the time of the investigation such as red fox instead of coyote or other causes such as, bloat, poisonous plants, stillborn, disease, lightning strike, vehicle collision, etc.
*indicates new additions to the article.
ODFW confirmed *investigated reports of a wolf depredation* on March 22. The attack occurred on private land in the Pyles Creek area of Union County and resulted in 1 dead calf.
In addition, new tracking data led ODFW to reclassify two groups of wolves on the Baker-Union County border as a singular wolf pack and have updated active lethal removal permits accordingly. ODFW issued the following statement on the situation:
“After monitoring the wolf radio-collared in Union Co in late February, it was determined that the new group of wolves depredating in the High Valley area of Catherine Creek WMU and the group depredating near Medical Springs (near the border of Baker and Union Counties) are the same wolves, now named the Black Pines Pack. The kill permit issued to livestock producers outside Medical Springs expired March 31. The permit in the High Valley area (allowing the producer or their agent to kill wolves on the single private land property where the depredations occurred) expires April 23.
A new kill permit was issued to the livestock producer in the WA139 group area after three more yearlings were killed by wolves on March 18. The old permit was canceled. The new permit allows for trapping by USDA Wildlife Services, allows the take of two wolves, and will expire April 25. All Wolf Plan rules regarding lethal removal permits are in effect for this permit, including that ODFW did not identify any wolf attractants on the producer’s property and the producer will continue using non-lethals (fladry, fox lights, RAG boxes in addition to others).
