With the removal of gray wolves from the Endangered Species List, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) announced wolves will remain protected in the state and the department will manage the population.
Under the state’s plan, wolves in Oregon’s West Wolf Management Zone (west of Highways 97, 20, 395) are in Phase 1, the conservation phase of recovery and wolves east of that boundary (East Wolf Management Zone) are in Phase 3 of wolf recovery.
Lethal control could be allowed in chronic livestock depredation situations when non-lethal measures have been unsuccessful at eliminating conflict. However, several other criteria must also be met and are very restrictive in Phase 1.
Livestock producers should check with the Department of Agriculture for rules regarding lethal measures and financial assistance to implement nonlethal measures. You can also visit ODFW’s wolf website at dfw.state.or.us/wolves/ for preventative measures.
