Population of wolves drops, but packs are expanding

Posted: Thursday, September 29, 2011

By ANNA WILLARD East Oregonian

 

A decision by state wildlife officials to kill two wolves of the Imnaha pack in Wallowa County leaves ranchers pleased and environmental groups disappointed.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife last week decided to eliminate the pack's alpha male and male yearling after determining the pair is responsible for killing a calf near Joseph Sept. 22.

Records from the alpha male's radio collar put the wolf at the scene. A close look at the dead calf showed another wolf took part in the kill, said Russ Morgan, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife wolf coordinator.
That means it's time for the alpha male to go, said Rod Childers, chairman of the Oregon Cattleman's Association wolf task force. But taking out the wolves spells doom for the Imnaha pack, said Sean Stevens, Oregon Wild communications director.
"If the state continues with heavy-handed management, the wolf population will remain in stasis and they will keep their token wolf population around,"  Stevens said.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists will be responsible for shooting the animals, Morgan said.
He said the wolf count in Oregon is currently 14, but will drop to 12 after two Imnaha wolves are killed.
Even though their numbers have slipped from 21 last year, wolves are moving to different parts of Eastern Oregon.
State fish and wildlife said it discovered at least two pups in trail-camera footage taken Sept. 5 in Umatilla County. The new additions belong to the Walla Walla pack. If at least two of the pups live through the year, the Walla Walla pack would be considered a successful breeding pair.
"Generally, pup survival is pretty good in new areas," Morgan said.
Factors that commonly limit pup survival are diseases, accidental or illegal shootings and other wolves outside the pack or within the pack.
In addition to the new arrivals in Umatilla County, a wolf formerly of the Imnaha pack has taken up residence near Fossil in Wheeler County, Morgan said.
"Just as we've documented, the new activity and new reproduction, that's a good indicator, even though it will be slowed by the action we're taking right now," he said.
In Wallowa County, the radio collar attached to the alpha male placed him at or near other confirmed livestock kills, Childers said.
"We confirmed the depredation and very shortly after that to kill the wolves because we are in a chronic depredation situation,"?Morgan said. "It's frustrating for producers in the area and frustrating for those that want to see more wolves and it is frustrating for us."
Last year the Imnaha pack committed seven confirmed livestock kills. The most recent kill near Joseph marks the seventh confirmed this year, also by the Imnaha pack, Morgan said.
"The plan says they'll kill them when they're causing a problem and we agree with that," Childers said. "We recognize they're going to be here and all we're asking is they give us the chance to protect our private property."

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