Another calf slain by wolves in NE Oregon

{child_byline}Wallowa County Chieftain{/child_byline}

{child_source}capitalpress.com{/child_source}

Another calf slain by wolves in NE Oregon

{child_byline}Wallowa County Chieftain{/child_byline}

{child_source}Wallowa County Chieftain{/child_source}

WALLOWA, Ore. — State officials have confirmed that the Wildcat Pack of wolves was responsible for the death of a 4-month-old calf north of Wallowa.

The carcass was found on private land, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a press release.

The announcement comes after three confirmed depredations and two probable depredations were attributed to a previously unknown wolf or wolves in the southern portion of the Sled Springs Wildlife Management Unit and the northern portion of the Minam Wildlife Management Unit since a kill permit was issued May 15. ODFW approved a kill permit to take two wolves in the Lostine area and extended the permit beyond its original June 30 expiration date.

This authorization allows removal by the producers or their agent on the private land pastures of two affected producers.

ODFW said the producers in question have been using recommended nonlethal methods of reducing conflicts with wolves, such as regular human presence day and night, removing attractants, placing livestock at night in pens guarded by electromesh and use of scare devices.

Each limited-duration permit is valid until July 31 or until a wolf is removed, whichever comes first. The authorization also allows USDA Wildlife Services to remove the wolves in the area. An update about the authorization will be posted if wolves are killed or the authorization is extended.

So far in 2024, ODFW has confirmed or deemed as probable 12 wolf attacks on livestock in Wallowa County, including the July 3 depredation. Here are details of the other attacks, with dates of the ODFW investigations:

• May 27: A confirmed attack by unknown wolf or wolves in the Minam Wildlife Unit killed a 7-month-old lamb.

• May 15: ODFW officials said the death of a 2-month-old calf southwest of Flora was probably wolf-caused.

• April 26: ODFW officials confirmed that the death of an ewe and seven month-old lambs in the Lostine area was the work of an unknown wolf or wolves in the Sled Springs Wildlife Management Unit. An attack that injured another ewe was confirmed as a wolf attack. The death of another lamb was listed as a probable wolf attack.

• April 25: A confirmed attack by unknown wolf or wolves in the Sled Springs Wildlife Management Unit killed an ewe and six month-old lambs in the Lostine area.

• April 22: A confirmed attack by the Grouse Flats Pack killed a month-old calf in the Grouse Flats area.

• March 29: A confirmed attack by an unknown wolf or wolves in the Sled Springs Wildlife Management Unit injured a 10-day-old calf near Lower Promise Road.

• March 6: A confirmed attack by the Grouse Flats Pack killed a bull east of Flora.

• Jan. 3: A confirmed attack by the Grouse Flats Pack north of Flora killed a yearling cow.

An ODFW investigation June 18 concluded that an attack on private land near Cabin Creek in Union County that left three 3-month-old lambs dead was probably the work of the Balloon Tree Pack. That’s the first Union County attack investigated by ODFW this year.