Wallowa County adopts wolf management policy, urges state action to reduce conflicts
By Tracy Christopher on Friday, January 9th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
WALLOWA COUNTY — The Wallowa County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday, January 7, to adopt a new county wolf management policy, signaling a strong request for more aggressive state action to address growing conflicts between wolves, livestock producers, and wildlife populations.
The resolution, approved as Resolution 2026-001 during the board’s first regular meeting of the year, establishes a formal county policy aimed at reducing wolf numbers, minimizing livestock depredation, protecting big game populations, and restoring balance between predators, prey, and community impacts.
Commissioners approved the consent agenda quickly before turning to the wolf policy, which had been developed over approximately six months by a local working group that included ranchers, hunters, and wildlife experts. Commissioners emphasized that the policy is not an attack on individuals or agencies, but rather a request that the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) fully utilize management tools already available under the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.
“This wasn’t taken lightly,” Commissioner John Hillock said. “A lot of research went into this, and we spoke with some of the preeminent wolf researchers in the nation. This is about using the tools that already exist to responsibly manage the wolf population.”
Key Elements of the Policy
The adopted policy calls for:
- A maximum wolf population of 25 wolves in Wallowa County, with aggressive management to reduce numbers to that level as soon as possible.
- Proactive management of pack size, encouraging packs of six wolves or fewer to reduce depredation and predator-prey imbalance.
- Focused wolf presence in areas with minimal livestock and human activity, regardless of land ownership.
- Support for lethal control when wolves threaten human safety, livestock, or when big game populations fall below management objectives.
- Coordination with ODFW to develop management units and objectives.
- Support for removing wolves from state and federal endangered species listings.
- Support for research and pilot programs, including public hunting and trapping as management tools in targeted areas.
The resolution cites the county’s agricultural economy, hunting culture, and wildlife management mandates under Oregon law. It also references a professional survey conducted by Hoffman Research Group indicating that 62 percent of respondents favored no wolves in the county, 22 percent favored fewer than 25 wolves, and 77 percent believed wolves negatively impact Wallowa County’s social and economic well-being.
According to ODFW’s most recent count, at least 67 wolves in 11 packs are currently present in the county.
Public Testimony Supports Action
Several community representatives spoke in support of the resolution.
Jim Atkinson of the Oregon Hunters Association, a longtime carnivore research biologist, said wolves have surpassed the threshold where coexistence remains sustainable without active management.
“They’re a magnificent species, but they need to be managed,” Atkinson said. “We’re past the point where the impacts on livestock and game populations can be ignored. This resolution reflects social, economic, cultural, and biological considerations and aligns with the North American model of wildlife management.”
Atkinson added that hunters could also help fund wolf management through potential application and permit fees if controlled hunting programs are established in the future.
John Williams, representing local cattle producers, said wolf depredation has increased steadily since the first confirmed incidents in 2011.
“In Wallowa County alone last year, we had 38 dead and injured livestock,” Williams said. “And that doesn’t include production losses like lower conception rates, lighter calves, and increased management costs. Those impacts affect every animal in a herd, not just the ones that are killed.”
Senator Todd Nash, who spoke, emphasized that ranchers would prefer proactive management over compensation payments, noting that statewide compensation costs could exceed $4 million per biennium if trends continue.
Another speaker noted that elk populations in the county have declined significantly from historic levels and are below ODFW management objectives in many units, raising concerns about long-term hunting opportunity and ecosystem balance.
Next Steps
The county will formally submit the policy and an accompanying letter to ODFW, requesting that the agency apply existing authorities within the state’s wolf management framework more assertively. Commissioners said the resolution represents a first step toward a broader conversation with state wildlife officials.
