ODFW: New group of wolves in S. Oregon Cascades

(Update: Adding background)

A new group of wolves has taken up residence in the southern Oregon Cascades, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed Thursday.

The agency said it has designed a new “Area of Known Wolf Activity” in the southern part of the Indigo Unit, located in Douglas and Lane counties.

The public has reported wolf activity in the area for several years, and biologists found the tracks of several wolves late last year, suggesting they were resident in the area.

Trail camera images of three wolves were captured Feb. 20 by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service remote camera in the Umpqua National Forest.

Wildlife managers said they have little data so far about the specifics of the new group, such as the animals’ sex, breeding status and specific use area. More surveys are needed to find out the information, ODFW said.

The species has been making comeback after being wiped out 70 years ago by a bounty-hunting program.

Wolves lost endangered status under Oregon law in 2015 – when the state’s population hit 81 wolves – and are no longer federally protected in the eastern third of the state.

As of early 2018, there were at least 124 wolves in Oregon.