Wolves active in Cascade Mountains

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) issued a press release on Jan. 16 confirming the presence of at least two wolves in southern Wasco County, marking the first time multiple wolves have been confirmed in the northern portion of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains since they began returning to the state in the 2000s. According to ODFW, the wolves were documented on the White River Wildlife Area and Mt. Hood National Forest and have also been observed on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Veril Nelson, Oregon Cattlemen’s Association wolf chairperson told WLJ, “It’s obvious that wolves are rapidly spreading throughout Oregon as they have now been seen in the Northern Cascades and are well established in the Southern Cascade Range. Ranchers are increasingly worried as the western three-fourths of Oregon is federally listed as endangered. We are limited to nonlethal means of protecting our livestock, which may work for a short period of time.” She concluded, “The goal of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association is to delist or change the rules to give more means of protecting livestock.” — WLJ