ODFW plans to kill 2 more wolves in NE Oregon pack
ENTERPRISE, Ore. (AP) – Authorities plan to kill another two wolves in northeast Oregon after more livestock were attacked.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (http://bit.ly/2x8bZjT ) the wolves authorities are targeting are in the same pack as the two that were killed last week.
The pack of wolves in Wallowa County has become a problem for livestock in the area.
State biologists estimated in December that the pack has about 10 wolves in it.
State officials previously said they’ve documented wolf attacks on seven cattle in the past 13 months, including three cattle kills.
Oregon removed wolves from the state’s Endangered Species list in 2015, but the animals remain on the federal list and are protected in Western Oregon. In northeast Oregon, however, the animals are managed under the state’s wolf plan.
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ODFW news release issued Wednesday:
Update on the Harl Butte wolf pack
Today , ODFW confirmed another depredation by the Harl Butte wolf pack. ODFW intends to remove an additional two uncollared wolves (not pups) from this pack to limit further livestock losses.
Note the Harl Butte wolf pack is larger than originally estimated. ODFW has found evidence of at least eight wolves remaining in this pack, not including three pups.
Two weeks have passed since ODFW first announced plans to lethally remove wolves from the Harl Butte wolf pack due to chronic depredation. ODFW removed two non-breeding members of the Harl Butte wolf pack last week. (One 33-pound wolf pup of the year was unintentionally captured and released.)
During the past two weeks, the radio-collared wolf in the pack, the breeding male, has been monitored closely to determine if he and other members of the pack altered their behavior and location. Removal of the two wolves , increased human presence in this area and continued use of non-lethal deterrents by livestock producers did not result in a significant change in the pack’s behavior.
ODFW will continue to monitor the effectiveness of this next removal and livestock producers will continue non-lethal deterrents including daily human presence, removal of any potential attractants, and hazing.
