A wolf from the Desolation pack looks into a remote camera on U.S. Forest Service land in Grant County in June 2021.

Deschutes County has finalized the appointment of members to serve on its newly formed Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Committee.

The five-member committee is required to include two people who represent the livestock and ranching industry and two people who represent groups or organizations that support wolf preservation. One Deschutes County commissioner is also required to serve on the committee.

The appointed members include the following:

• Ethan O’Brien, co-owner of North 44 Farm LLC
• Jonny Leason, owner of Pineridge Ranch Hay & Cattle LLC,
• Sarahlee Lawrence, owner and operator of Rainshadow Organics
• Donna Harris, a member of Wolf Welcome Committee, a Central Oregon nonprofit organization
• Phil Chang, Deschutes County commissioner

The first appointments will have terms staggered between two years and three years. O’Brien and Lawrence will serve three-year appointments while Leason and Harris will serve two-year appointments.

The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for June 26, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The meeting will be held in person at the Deschutes Services Building at 1300 NW Wall St. in Bend. The meeting can also be viewed on Zoom, a link can be found on the county calendar on its website.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has designated parts of Deschutes County as areas of known wolf activity. Last month, wildlife officials confirmed the county’s first livestock kill by wolves, although others may have also occurred but gone undocumented.

The committee will be determining how much money can be paid to livestock owners when confirmed depredation by wolves occurs on their property.