Reward being offered for information on poisoning case that killed wolves, eagles and other wildlife in Wallowa County
By Joe Hathaway on Thursday, May 16th, 2024 in Columbia Basin Top Stories Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
WALLOWA COUNTY – (Release by Oregon State Police) The Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish & Wildlife Division is partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement to investigate the unlawful poisoning of three gray wolves, two golden eagles, a mountain lion, and a coyote in the Imnaha River drainage in February of 2024 (link to USFWS Press Release). It should be noted that the suspected source of poison was removed from the landscape by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to prevent further poisonings.
In addition to the aforementioned incident, the OSP Fish & Wildlife Division is also asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the person(s) responsible for the unlawful take of additional gray wolves, and the killing of domestic dogs in several other locations in Wallowa County, OR:
- During the months of July and October of 2023, F&W Troopers responded to the unlawful take of two wolves respectively, which had been poisoned within the Chesnimnus Wildlife Management Unit, approximately 30 miles northeast of Enterprise, OR. The poisonings and cause of death were confirmed through the Clark R. Bavin National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory.
- During April 2024, F&W Troopers responded to the unlawful take of a wolf, which is suspected of being poisoned in the Wenaha Wildlife Management Unit, approximately 5 miles west of Troy, OR. Investigators are awaiting a confirmed cause of death from the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory.
- During April 2024, F&W Troopers responded to a domestic dog which was poisoned and within the Sled Springs Wildlife Management. This location is approximately 9 miles north of Enterprise, OR. The poisoning was confirmed through a veterinary clinic.
- During late April 2024, F&W Troopers responded to another domestic dog which is suspected of being poisoned within the Snake River Management Unit. This location is approximately 6 miles north of Imnaha, OR.
Anyone with information regarding these cases is urged to contact OSP Senior Trooper Sean Carothers through the Turn in Poachers (TIP) hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or dial *OSP (mobile). TIPs can remain anonymous.
** Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators**
The Turn In Poachers (TIP) program is a collaboration between the Oregon State Police, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Wildlife Coalition, Oregon Outfitter and Guides Association, and the Oregon State Marine Board.
The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of the following big game mammals.
Preference Point Rewards:
*5 Points-Bighorn Sheep
*5 Points-Rocky Mountain Goat
*5 Points-Moose
*5 Points-Wolf
*4 Points-Elk
*4 Points-Deer
*4 Points-Pronghorn Antelope
*4 Points-Bear
*4 Points-Cougar
The TIP program also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of the following fish and wildlife species. Cash rewards can also be awarded for habitat destruction, illegally obtaining hunting or angling license or tag, lending or borrowing big game tags, spotlighting, or snagging.
CASH REWARDS:
Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) Cash Rewards:
$2,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat or Moose
$1,000 Elk, Deer or Antelope
$600 Bear, Cougar or Wolf
$300 Habitat Destruction
$200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags
$200 Unlawful Lending/Borrowing Big Game Tag(s)
$200 Game Fish & Shellfish
$200 Game Birds or Furbearers
$200 Spotlighting
$200 Snagging/Attempt to Snag
Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) Cash Rewards:
$500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey
$500 Cougar, Bobcat, Beaver (public lands only), Black bears, Bighorn Sheep, Marten, Fisher, Sierra Nevada Red Fox
$1,000 Species listed as “threatened” or “endangered” under state or federal Endangered Species Act (excludes fish)
$11,500 Wolf
Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA) Cash Rewards
$200 Acting as an Outfitter Guide for the Illegal Killing of Wildlife, Illegally Obtaining Oregon Hunting or Angling Licenses or Tags, or Illegally Offering to Act as an Outfitter Guide as defined in ORS 704.010 and 704.020.
How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity:
TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP (*677)
TIP email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov (Monitored M-F 8:00AM – 5:00PM)
