Three more confirmed wolf depredations, one “other”, according to ODFW
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Wednesday, September 1st, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
BAKER/UMATILLA COUNTIES – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has released their most recent Livestock Depredation Investigation Report. Within that report is another confirmed depredation by the Lookout Mountain Pack in Baker County and two confirmed depredations attributed to the OR30 Wolves.
Those investigation reports are below.
August 30, 2021 – Baker County (Lawrence Creek area)
Date Investigated: 8/30/21 Cause of death/injury: Confirmed
General situation and animal information: On the morning of 8/30/21 a livestock producer, while checking cattle, found a dead 600 lb. calf on public land within a 2800+ acre mixed public/private land pasture. The carcass was partially consumed but most of the hide was intact. The calf was estimated to have died late in the day on 8/29/21 or inthe early morning of 8/30/21.
Physical evidence and summary of findings: A struggle scene consisting of broken vegetation and blood trail was found approximately 25 yards from the carcass leading to the deceased calf. Blood on the ground and on overhanging branches and vegetation was from a standing animal, and wolf tracks were found along the trail. The front legs and hindquarters were shaved and skinned. Numerous pre-mortem tooth scrapes up to 3/16 of an inch wide and 3 inches long were found on both rear legs above the hock, and the left front leg near the elbow. Associated tissue damage was up to 1 ½ inches deep. The location, size, number, and direction of tooth scrapes and severity of tissue trauma are consistent with wolf attack injuries on cattle. The depredation is attributed to the Lookout MountainPack.
August 29, 2021 – Umatilla County A&B (Horseshoe Ridge area)
Date Investigated: 8/29/21 Cause of death/injury: Confirmed (2)
General situation and animal information: While checking cows, a livestock producer found an injured calf (calf A) the evening of 8/28/21 in a large private-land forested pasture. It died a few minutes after discovery. Calf A was approximately 4 months old, weighed around 400 lbs., and was intact. It was estimated calf A was injured the evening of 8/28/21. On the morning of 8/29/21, several cow/calf pairs independently returned to the livestock producer’s camp and a calf (calf B) was observed with an open wound above the right hock. This calf was approximately 3 months oldand weighed around 300 lbs.
During the investigation on 8/29/21, the producer was unable to restrain calf B for close examination. On 8/31/21, the calf was restrained and examined. It was estimated calf B was injured 6 days prior to this examination.
Physical evidence and summary of findings: Calf A’s legs, rump, and neck were shaved and skinned. Numerous pre-mortem bite scrapes and punctures measuring up to 3/16 inch wide were found on the inside and outside of both rear legs above the hocks, near the anus, and front right leg above the elbow. Underlying pre-mortem hemorrhage and muscle tissue trauma, up to 1 inch deep, was extensive in all areas that showed bite scrapes and bite punctures.Calf B had bite scrapes on both hind legs above the hocks, a 3 inch x 3 inch exposed muscle tissue wound to the inside of its rear right leg above the hock, and a 1 inch x 1 inch exposed muscle tissue wound to the inside of the left rear leg between the anus and groin. The size and location of wounds are consistent with wolf attacks on calves.These two separate depredation events are attributed to the OR30 Wolves.
August 25, 2021 – Baker County (Fox Creek area)
Date Investigated: 8/25/21 Cause of death/injury: Other
General situation and animal information: A ranch manager found a dead three-year-old cow the morning of 8/25/21 while gathering cattle in a large public grazing allotment. The carcass was almost entirely intact. It wasestimated the cow died late on 8/24/21 or early on 8/25/21.Physical evidence and summary of findings: The cow carcass was partially shaved and skinned, and the entire carcass was examined. There were no pre-mortem injuries or abnormalities found in the hide or muscle tissue. Most of the tongue had been removed pre-mortem. The margin on the remaining portion of tongue was jagged with no tooth marks, and the blood vessels at the base of the tongue had been severed with extensive blood clots observed in the mouth. A scene was found along a road approximately 100 yards uphill from the carcass location. Large amounts of pooled blood were found in several spots, with additional blood splattered up to 5 feet high in surrounding trees.Additional dripping and pooled blood was found between the apparent initial scene of injury and the carcass. Tracking conditions were good, and no predator tracks were found. The cow died of blood loss associated with the tongue injury. While the cause of the injury is unknown, it was not wolf related.
Three more confirmed wolf depredations, one “other”, according to ODFW
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Wednesday, September 1st, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
BAKER/UMATILLA COUNTIES – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has released their most recent Livestock Depredation Investigation Report. Within that report is another confirmed depredation by the Lookout Mountain Pack in Baker County and two confirmed depredations attributed to the OR30 Wolves.
Those investigation reports are below.
August 30, 2021 – Baker County (Lawrence Creek area)
Date Investigated: 8/30/21 Cause of death/injury: Confirmed
General situation and animal information: On the morning of 8/30/21 a livestock producer, while checking cattle, found a dead 600 lb. calf on public land within a 2800+ acre mixed public/private land pasture. The carcass was partially consumed but most of the hide was intact. The calf was estimated to have died late in the day on 8/29/21 or inthe early morning of 8/30/21.
Physical evidence and summary of findings: A struggle scene consisting of broken vegetation and blood trail was found approximately 25 yards from the carcass leading to the deceased calf. Blood on the ground and on overhanging branches and vegetation was from a standing animal, and wolf tracks were found along the trail. The front legs and hindquarters were shaved and skinned. Numerous pre-mortem tooth scrapes up to 3/16 of an inch wide and 3 inches long were found on both rear legs above the hock, and the left front leg near the elbow. Associated tissue damage was up to 1 ½ inches deep. The location, size, number, and direction of tooth scrapes and severity of tissue trauma are consistent with wolf attack injuries on cattle. The depredation is attributed to the Lookout MountainPack.
August 29, 2021 – Umatilla County A&B (Horseshoe Ridge area)
Date Investigated: 8/29/21 Cause of death/injury: Confirmed (2)
General situation and animal information: While checking cows, a livestock producer found an injured calf (calf A) the evening of 8/28/21 in a large private-land forested pasture. It died a few minutes after discovery. Calf A was approximately 4 months old, weighed around 400 lbs., and was intact. It was estimated calf A was injured the evening of 8/28/21. On the morning of 8/29/21, several cow/calf pairs independently returned to the livestock producer’s camp and a calf (calf B) was observed with an open wound above the right hock. This calf was approximately 3 months oldand weighed around 300 lbs.
During the investigation on 8/29/21, the producer was unable to restrain calf B for close examination. On 8/31/21, the calf was restrained and examined. It was estimated calf B was injured 6 days prior to this examination.
Physical evidence and summary of findings: Calf A’s legs, rump, and neck were shaved and skinned. Numerous pre-mortem bite scrapes and punctures measuring up to 3/16 inch wide were found on the inside and outside of both rear legs above the hocks, near the anus, and front right leg above the elbow. Underlying pre-mortem hemorrhage and muscle tissue trauma, up to 1 inch deep, was extensive in all areas that showed bite scrapes and bite punctures.Calf B had bite scrapes on both hind legs above the hocks, a 3 inch x 3 inch exposed muscle tissue wound to the inside of its rear right leg above the hock, and a 1 inch x 1 inch exposed muscle tissue wound to the inside of the left rear leg between the anus and groin. The size and location of wounds are consistent with wolf attacks on calves.These two separate depredation events are attributed to the OR30 Wolves.
August 25, 2021 – Baker County (Fox Creek area)
Date Investigated: 8/25/21 Cause of death/injury: Other
General situation and animal information: A ranch manager found a dead three-year-old cow the morning of 8/25/21 while gathering cattle in a large public grazing allotment. The carcass was almost entirely intact. It wasestimated the cow died late on 8/24/21 or early on 8/25/21.Physical evidence and summary of findings: The cow carcass was partially shaved and skinned, and the entire carcass was examined. There were no pre-mortem injuries or abnormalities found in the hide or muscle tissue. Most of the tongue had been removed pre-mortem. The margin on the remaining portion of tongue was jagged with no tooth marks, and the blood vessels at the base of the tongue had been severed with extensive blood clots observed in the mouth. A scene was found along a road approximately 100 yards uphill from the carcass location. Large amounts of pooled blood were found in several spots, with additional blood splattered up to 5 feet high in surrounding trees.Additional dripping and pooled blood was found between the apparent initial scene of injury and the carcass. Tracking conditions were good, and no predator tracks were found. The cow died of blood loss associated with the tongue injury. While the cause of the injury is unknown, it was not wolf related.
