Wallowa County sees first confirmed wolf depredation in two months, lethal removals authorized

WALLOWA COUNTY – The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife says a bull is dead after a confirmed wolf depredation near Flora.

ODFW says the Grouse Flats Pack is responsible for attacking and killing a bull on private land on March 6.

This is the first confirmed wolf depredation from ODFW in Wallowa County since January 3.

Union County has not had an ODFW-confirmed depredation since December 29.  Baker County hasn’t seen a state-confirmed attack since December 22.

In addition, ODFW has authorized the lethal removal of two wolves from the Grouse Flats Pack following the recent depredation. ODFW’s full statement on the lethal removal permit is as follows:

“On March 8, 2024, ODFW authorized lethal removal of up to two wolves from the chronically depredating Grouse Flats Pack in Wallowa County. The authorization allows removal by the producer or their agent (including USDA Wildlife Services at their request) through a limited duration permit until April 30, 2024, on private land pastures they own or lease. The producer requested lethal removal after three confirmed depredation events since October 2023. The producer used the “caught in the act” provision to remove two wolves from the pack on March 6; that provision allows producers to kill a wolf caught the act of biting, wounding, killing, or chasing livestock.

The producer is using fladry and ragboxes, removes dead livestock, kept cows with yearlings, moved livestock to more protectable areas, and increased human presence to reduce conflict. The Grouse Flats Pack primarily resides in Washington but their territory extends into Oregon and they have frequented the Flora area during the past two winters. The Grouse Flats Pack is currently estimated to include eight wolves. An update about the authorization will be posted if two wolves are removed, after the permits expires, or if the permit is extended.”

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Elkhorn Media Group