OSP suspends investigation of NE Oregon wolf deaths
Oregon State Police said Wednesday they have suspended their investigation into the suspicious deaths of two wolves found in Wallowa County in late August.
The wolves were necropsied (examined by a veterinarian) to determine the cause of death).
“However, due to the condition of decay, the cause of death has not been determined,” the OSP said in a news release. “The Oregon State Police does not know if these two wolf deaths were human caused.”
Anyone who may have information regarding this incident may call the TIP Hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or TIP e-mail TIP@state.or.us .
Last month, the agency said it suspected a person or people had killed the wolves.
Troopers said two wolves were found dead in the Sled Springs area of Wallowa County the week of August 24 .
One of the wolves found dead was collared (OR21, female). After the collar emitted a mortality signal, an OSP fish and wildlife trooper from the Enterprise office, along with ODFW personnel, responded to the location and found two deceased wolves within 50 yards of each other.
The collared wolf and a male she had been observed with were known as the Sled Springs pair and were newly established in the area. ODFW created the Sled Springs Pair Area of Known Wolf Activity in January of 2015 (visit http://dfw.state.or.us/Wolves/AKWA/sled_springs.asp for more information).
ODFW said there was one reported wolf predation in the area in June, when a rancher found a partially consumed calf and the state determined it was killed by a wolf.
