FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oregon Wild Statement on Wolf Depredation

As wolves begin to recover in state, conservationists put incident in context

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists investigated a possible wolf depredation in Northeast Oregon - an exceedingly rare event.

Background:

The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) has confirmed the loss of a calf to wolves in Wallowa County. It is the first such incident in the county in over half a century. Wolves once roamed throughout Oregon. However, a government-sponsored program of eradication ended when the state’s last wolf was shot in 1946. Through reintroduction and natural recolonization, wolves have begun to retake their place in the landscape of the American West.

In 1999, the first wolf crossed the Snake River and returned to Oregon. It was quickly returned to Idaho and the next few wolves to make the trip were shot by poachers and hit by cars. However, in 2008, the first confirmed wolf pups were born in Oregon and the native predator had taken its first steps toward recovery.

Anticipating the eventual return of wolves to Oregon, the state worked with stakeholders including conservationists, hunters, ranchers, and the public to draft a wolf plan in 2005. The plan sets low recovery numbers and leaves management decisions in the hands of biologists and wildlife managers. In the spring of 2009, Oregon experienced its first depredation event in the Keating Valley. Later that year, after efforts to deter them failed, the first two wolves to kill livestock in over half a century in Oregon were in turn killed by wildlife managers under the wolf management plan. The livestock producer was fully compensated for his losses.

Oregon is currently home to a confirmed population of 14 wolves in 2 packs – both in Northeast Oregon. The Imnaha pack of 10 is led by Sophie (B300), named by Oregon Wild activists after entering Oregon. Another pack of 4 wolves was caught on film for the first time earlier this spring.

The Oregon wolf plan is currently undergoing a mandated 5-year review process. With a current population of only 14 confirmed wolves, conservationists are working to fully fund the wolf plan and empower biologists to make decisions regarding the state-endangered species. The Oregon Cattlemens' Association is actively working to weaken, re-write, or throw away the plan all together and last year attempted to pass legislation allowing private citizens to kill wolves if they determined them to be threatening.

Statement of Rob Klavins, Roadless Wildlands Advocate of Oregon Wild:

“The extermination of wolves is one of Oregon’s greatest environmental tragedies and their return has the potential to be one of our greatest success stories. Livestock losses to wolves are unfortunate, but also rare. Even in places where wolves have recovered, losses to wolves are dwarfed by weather, disease, human thieves, and even domestic dogs.

“Though most Oregonians welcome the news of the return of wolves, a small but vocal minority remains fearful and is all too eager to seize upon any opportunity to demonize wolves and see them exterminated again.

“As we discovered last year, Oregon has a wolf management plan that gives biologists and wildlife managers more than enough tools to deal with events like this. We hope these professionals will be allowed to do their work and hope that anti-wolf interests will not seize upon this rare event to try to justify the killing of Oregon’s fragile, recovering wolf population."

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