Two incidents in Baker County not wolf related
By Shannon McKone on Saturday, August 14th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories
August 4, 2021 – Baker County (First Creek area)
Date Investigated: 8/4/21 Cause of death/injury: Other
General situation and animal information: On the afternoon of 8/3/21 a livestock producer found an adult cow that had injuries to its udder on a large private rangeland pasture. The cow was moved into a corral and examined the morning of 8/4/21. The injury was estimated to have occurred 1 to 2 weeks before examination.
Physical evidence and summary of findings: The areas around the right rear leg and right front elbow were shaved and the entire cow was examined. There were rub marks in the hide in the arm pit area on both sides of the cow. There was an approximately 5-inch-long open wound to the underside of the udder. No marks were found around the injured area. There was no evidence of bite marks or predator attack on the cow. The cause of the wound is unknown but was not wolf related.
August 1, 2021 – Baker County (Fivemile Creek area)
Date Investigated: 8/1/21 Cause of death/injury: Other
General situation and animal information: On the night of 7/31/21, a livestock owner found a dead approximately 1.5-year-old, 150 lb. ewe on public land. The carcass was mostly intact with a small area of scavenging around the anus and upper hind legs. The sheep was estimated to have died between the night of 7/30/21 and early afternoon of 7/31/21.
Physical evidence and summary of findings: The carcass was skinned and examined. There were pre- mortem bite scrapes and punctures 1/16-1/8 inch wide and up to 1 ½ inch long above the hocks on the hind legs, on the upper back in front of the hips, and in the left front leg armpit. Associated tissue trauma was 1/4-3/4 inch deep. There were also several canine tooth tears in the hide of the throat up to 3/16 inch long with associated tissue trauma approximately 1/2 inch deep. The pre-mortem bite wounds are a clear sign of predator attack but lacked diagnostic evidence to differentiate between coyote and domestic dog. The ewe’s death was not wolf related.
