By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
BAKER COUNTY – The Lookout Mountain Pack has attributed to another depredation in Baker County. This is just one of a number of confirmed depredations recently by this pack. In late July the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) shot and killed two pups from this pack. The ODFW said that “With 2 pups removed there is less need for meat for the pups.”
The following livestock depredation report was provided by the ODFW
August 19, 2021 – Baker County (Manning Creek area)
Date Investigated: 8/19/21
Cause of death/injury: Confirmed
General situation and animal information: On the morning of 8/19/21 an adjacent landowner found a dead 150 lb., 3-month-old calf on a 1000 acre private-land pasture and notified the producer. The carcass had been heavily scavenged and was missing the majority of muscle tissues posterior of the lower neck, pelvis, hind left leg, and all internal organs. The calf was estimated to have died late on 8/18/21 or early morning 8/19/21.
Physical evidence and summary of findings: An approximately 30 yards long attack scene was found, with blood on standing blades of grass intermixed with wolf tracks. The hair was shaved, and the calf was examined. The calf had pre-mortem bite injuries in the hide with associated hemorrhaging and tissue trauma on the rear right leg above the hock, back, front right elbow, head, and upper neck. Pre-mortem tooth marks were up to 3/16 of an inch wide and 2 inches long. The depredation is attributed to the Lookout Mountain Pack.
Update on lethal take authorization for Lookout Mt Pack
The initial lethal control authorized by ODFW on July 29 was successful in slowing livestock depredations by the Lookout Mt Pack. Depredations stopped for 18 days after two juvenile wolves were killed by ODFW on Aug. 1. The Lookout Mt Pack had previously killed or injured five cows in five separate incidents over a 14 day period in late July. A permit issued to producers to remove wolves expired on Aug. 21.
Nonlethal measures continued during the previous permit period and continue to date, with livestock producers continuing their high level of daily human presence, hazing wolves, removing injured cattle, moving cattle to different pastures, and coordinating with other landowners and ODFW biologists to focus nonlethal activities in the appropriate areas.
Unfortunately, another livestock depredation by the pack was confirmed on Friday, Aug. 19 and ODFW is issuing a new permit for an additional three weeks (expires Sept. 14, 2021).
ODFW has a responsibility to address continued chronic livestock depredation by wolves and strives to first pursue incremental lethal control rather than removing entire packs to strike a balance between protecting livestock and wolves on the landscape. Other options may be considered in situations where incremental lethal control and nonlethal activities are unsuccessful at resolving depredations.
The new permit will allow the three producers who have experienced depredations on their family-run cattle operations on public and private land to kill up to a total of two uncollared wolves. It does not increase the number of Lookout Mt wolves that may be killed (the original permit allowed for up to four uncollared wolves to be taken). The permit is limited to land the producers own or where they legally graze cattle.