Naturalists couldn’t be happier about the growing number of wolves in Oregon. For them, the return of wolves restores a missing piece of the ecosystem. But almost in inverse proportion, ranchers are not so pleased.

We don’t want to make light of the serious issues that divide naturalists and ranchers, but there are great mystery stories in the state’s wolf kill investigations.

The reports are how the state determines if a wolf is guilty of killing livestock. They help measure the impact of wolves in Oregon and can earn ranchers compensation for losses.

The reports aren’t great literature. But for a bureaucratic report, there is fascinating intrigue in the evidence, sleuthing and suspects.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife tries to get an investigator on site within 24 hours of a report of a possible wolf kill. There is measurement of bite marks and location. Determinations are made about what wounds were killing strikes and what was postmortem feeding. There’s analysis of tracks. There’s comparison of tracking locations of collared wolves. The final reports are published online at www.dfw.state.or.us/Wolves/depredation_investigations.asp.

Sometimes, wolves are blamed. Sometimes, it’s a mountain lion. Sometimes, ODFW investigators are just not sure.

Ranchers complain about these investigations. Todd Nash, a Wallowa County rancher and chairman of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association wolf committee, doesn’t feel ODFW is willing enough to confirm a wolf kill. He told the East Oregonian it would be easier to find O.J. Simpson guilty than a wolf.

He pointed to an incident in Wallowa County this year of the death of a calf. There was evidence the calf had been attacked by a wolf and a coyote. The investigation decision was “probable wolf” instead of “confirmed wolf.”

Nash’s frustration is understandable. But ODFW’s decision in that case seemed reasonable given the evidence presented in the report.

The state does have a responsibility to get rid of wolves that are chronically preying on livestock. But if the paw doesn’t fit, the state must acquit.