Six Eastern Oregon counties halt use of cyanide traps

ENTERPRISE, Ore. (AP) – Six eastern Oregon counties say they are halting the use of cyanide traps to kill coyotes to protect the state’s wolf population.

The Baker City Herald reports (http://bit.ly/2nxdd2Y) that the USDA Wildlife Services and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife came to the agreement to stop the use cyanide traps in six counties after the accidental killing of a gray wolf in February.

Officials say cyanide traps to control predators will no longer be used in Baker, Wallowa, Union, Umatilla, Morrow and Grant counties.

Officials from both agencies say they are working to improve communication between the entities and share information on future wolf sightings.