OR wolves 1 livestock attack away from kill order

AP Photo/Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

In this May 3, 2009 file photo provided by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Russ Morgan, ODFW wolf coordinator, waits while a wolf recovers from anesthesia during a radio-collaring effort. Conservation groups and cattle ranchers have agreed to settlement of a lawsuit that has prevented Oregon from killing wolves that prey on livestock. The agreement makes killing wolves a last resort, and gives ranchers more authority to kill wolves attacking their herds.  

19 hours ago  •  Associated Press

 

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — The latest livestock attack by Oregon's Snake River pack could put it one bite away from being the first considered for a state kill order under new rules.

The settlement of a lawsuit from conservation groups forced Oregon to create specific rules for using lethal control on wolves in cattle country.

Ranchers must make an effort to keep wolves away with non-lethal means, such as having cowboys in the area.

Then a pack has to make four confirmed and qualifying attacks in six months.

A wounded cow found Nov. 21 has been confirmed as the third for the Snake River pack.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is evaluating whether non-lethal steps were taken that would qualify the attack in the countdown.

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