Oregon officials kill more wolves

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) reported that department staff shot and killed two wolves from the Pine Creek Pack on April 18. The uncollared yearling female and an uncollared adult male were on private land and shot from a helicopter. This happened after ODFW announced on April 17 that additional lethal control of two wolves was authorized after a confirmed depredation on April 14 and two more confirmed depredations on April 16. These depredations occurred in a different area about 5-6 miles away from the April 6-7 depredations. The three recent depredations bring the total to five incidents of depredation by the Pine Creek Pack, killing four calves and injuring six and affecting two different livestock producers. Producers in the new area have been implementing nonlethal activities to deter wolves and ranch staff have hazed the wolves away multiple times. Ranch staff have also been patrolling cattle from before daylight until darkness daily and keeping track of the wolves’ location with ODFW assistance. Additionally, ranch staff have delayed turning out cattle on large open range pastures and have moved cattle from pastures where the most recent depredations occurred. ODFW had planned to provide the latest producer affected with a kill permit for two wolves, but as ODFW staff have already killed two wolves, no kill permit will be issued to this producer. The Pine Creek Pack is now estimated to number five wolves including a breeding male (OR50), breeding female and three yearling wolves. One additional wolf from the pack could still be taken at the site of the April 6-7 depredations by ODFW staff or under a kill permit that expires May 4. — WLJ