Breaking News:

March 12, 2010: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife officially began the review process of the Oregon Wolf Management Plan.  Click links to read the testimony of Oregon Wild and the Cattlemen's Association.  Read ODFW's materials here (see links at Appendix H). 

• Click here for the most current wolf news
  

Wolves in Oregon:

Gray wolves (Canis lupus) were once common in Oregon, occupying most of the state. However, a deliberate effort to eradicate the species was successful by the 1940s.

Trouble for the wolf began in 1843, sixteen years before Oregon became a state, when the first wolf bounty was established. In 1913, people capitalizing on wolf bounties could collect a State of Oregon bounty of $5 and an Oregon State Game Commission bounty of $20. The last record of a paid wolf bounty was in 1946.

After a 60 years absence, wolves are once again making a presence in Oregon, having dispersed into the state from Idaho. One of the first sightings came in 1999 when a lone wolf was captured near the middle fork of the John Day River and returned to Idaho. In 2000, two wolves were found dead - one killed by a car, the other illegally shot.

In 2006, a flurry of sightings led state wildlife biologists to believe that a number of wild wolves were living in Northeast Oregon near the Wallowa Mountains and the Eagle Cap Wilderness area. In May of 2007 a wolf was found shot to death near La Grande, OR.

Since that time, wolves have taken a tentative foothold in the state.  In July, 2008 pups were confirmed for the first time in Oregon nearly 60 years!  A second set of six pups were confirmed and videotaped in the November, 2009. 

That was welcomed news after a year in which Oregon's wolves were (probably illegaly) stripped of their endangered species status, two wolves were shot by the state, and anti-wolf interests began lobbying to make it even easier to kill wolves.

The large tracts of pristine and unspoiled wilderness and roadless areas in Northeast Oregon are vital components to the success of wolves, and plenty of other animals, too. The re-appearance of wolves in Oregon further underscores the importance of protecting what little roadless areas remain on public land.

Anticipating the eventual return of wolves, the State of Oregon completed a wolf conservation and management plan in 2005. Read Oregon Wild's Comments about the plan here.

Read this fact sheet to find out why federal protections can make or break wolf recovery in Oregon, and check out this webpage that shoots down many of the common myths about wolves.

Watch the videos!

Living with wolves

• Learn about an Idaho rancher blazing a trail of peaceful coexistence with wolves

More information about wolves

• Common misconceptions about wolves cleared up
• The most recent wolf news
  
• USFWS fact sheet on gray wolves
• Background information from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• A scientific assessment of the 2009 western wolf delisting
  
• Learn about wolves from the Western Wolf Coalition

Take Action!

• Tell Oregon decision makers not to make it easier to kill wolves
  
• Write a letter supporting ODFW's wolf recovery efforts.
• Write a letter to the editor supporting wolf recovery
• Stay informed and engaged.  Join the Oregon Wild Wolf Pack.