Posted: Thursday, October 17, 2013
For the first time, wolves from a pack other than the notorious
Imnaha Pack have been implicated by state wildlife managers in an attack
on livestock in Wallowa County.
Depredation investigators for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) confirmed that Snake River Pack wolves attacked a 250-pound calf early this week in the Freezeout Saddle area roughly 20 miles east of Joseph. The incident occurred on public land.
In their report, dated Oct. 15, investigators
noted “a high number of bite wounds on the hind end of the animal...
Bite wounds were a result of large carnivore teeth (size of wounds). In
addition, the location and high number of bites were similar to other
confirmed wolf depredations.”
The report stated the calf’s wounds were “severe.”
According to ODFW, a livestock producer who was checking cattle in a forested allotment on Oct. 14 “observed a cow moving quickly down a hill. Shortly after, the producer reported observing 4 wolves (3 black, 1 gray) immediately upslope of where the cow had just been running. He immediately hazed the wolves away from the area by making loud noises. The following morning (10/15) the producer returned to the area to check cattle. He reported the cows were very agitated and one injured calf was found.”
Additionally, GPS collar data placed wolves OR15 and OR18, members of the Snake River Pack, in the area of the calf at the time of its injury.
ODFW first recognized the Snake River Pack’s existence in October 2011. At the time, the pack was believed to include at least five animals. In August 2012 the agency announced the pack had three pups, and in 2012’s year-ending wolf count, released in January 2013, the agency pegged the pack’s size at seven members. For purposes of wolf population recovery goals, the pack qualifies as a breeding pair.
source
Depredation investigators for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) confirmed that Snake River Pack wolves attacked a 250-pound calf early this week in the Freezeout Saddle area roughly 20 miles east of Joseph. The incident occurred on public land.
The report stated the calf’s wounds were “severe.”
According to ODFW, a livestock producer who was checking cattle in a forested allotment on Oct. 14 “observed a cow moving quickly down a hill. Shortly after, the producer reported observing 4 wolves (3 black, 1 gray) immediately upslope of where the cow had just been running. He immediately hazed the wolves away from the area by making loud noises. The following morning (10/15) the producer returned to the area to check cattle. He reported the cows were very agitated and one injured calf was found.”
Additionally, GPS collar data placed wolves OR15 and OR18, members of the Snake River Pack, in the area of the calf at the time of its injury.
ODFW first recognized the Snake River Pack’s existence in October 2011. At the time, the pack was believed to include at least five animals. In August 2012 the agency announced the pack had three pups, and in 2012’s year-ending wolf count, released in January 2013, the agency pegged the pack’s size at seven members. For purposes of wolf population recovery goals, the pack qualifies as a breeding pair.
source
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