Depredations of Ewes and guard dogs found in Union County
By Paul Hall on Wednesday, October 6th, 2021 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
UNION COUNTY – (Information provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)
October 1, 2021 – Union County (Balloon Tree area)
Date Investigated: 10/1/21 Cause of death/injury:
Confirmed General situation and animal information:
The morning of 10/1/21, a sheep herder found two injured Kangal guard dogs on an industrial timberland allotment. The herder reported that at approximately 2:00 a.m. on 10/1/21, he had heard a fight between his guard dog and an unknown predator(s) that included barking and growling. The injuries were estimated to have occurred the night of 9/30-10/1/21.
Physical evidence and summary of findings: Both dogs were examined. One dog had an approximately 6 inch long area of matted blood on the throat and left side of the neck that was dripping blood onto its front leg. This dog was agitated and could not be restrained for further examination. The second dog had a bite puncture 1/4 inch in diameter on the inside of the front right leg near the elbow. It also had two 1/4-3/8 inch diameter bite marks with an associated 3/8 inch wide, 2 inch long tooth scrape on the inside of the upper right rear leg. The observed bite wounds are consistent with a predator attack. The size and location of wounds are similar to other wolf/livestock guarding dog conflict investigations. This depredation event is attributed to the Balloon Tree Pack.
September 30, 2021 – Union County (Balloon Tree area)
Date Investigated: 9/30/21
Cause of death/injury: Confirmed (12 ewes)
General situation and animal information: On 9/29/21 an employee of a sheep producer found three adult ewes deceased in a large timbered private-land pasture. Upon arrival on 9/30/21, USDA Wildlife Services and ODFW found four additional dead ewes. Wildlife Services found three more dead ewes on 10/1/21 and one dead ewe on 10/4/21. One injured ewe was also found on 10/4/21. All animals were found in the same pasture. Eight ewes were fully intact with no feeding or scavenging present, and three were partially scavenged. The injured ewe was euthanized by Wildlife Services. The estimated time of injury or death for all twelve sheep was the night of 9/28/21.
Physical evidence and summary of findings: Seven sheep were examined on 9/30/21; three on 10/1/21, and two on 10/4/21. Most of the sheep were shaved and/or skinned, and all were examined. All sheep had pre-mortem wounds. Pre-mortem hemorrhage and/or tissue trauma up to 2 inches deep was found on the throats of eleven sheep. Pre-mortem hemorrhage and tissue trauma up to 2 inches deep was found on the hindquarters above the hocks of eight sheep. Tooth scrapes associated with these injuries were up to 3/16 inch wide, and a set of paired canine punctures had a spacing of 1 7/8 inches. The location, size, and severity of bite wounds are consistent with wolf attacks on sheep. This depredation event is attributed to the Balloon Tree Pack.
