FILE - This
June 20, 2012 photo provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife shows the wolf OR-14, a member of the Umatilla Pack, after it
was GPS-collared in the Weston Mountain area north of the Umatilla River
in northeastern Oregon. The Umatilla Pack has come within one livestock
attack of being the first considered for lethal control by the
department under Oregon's unique rules. (AP Photo/Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife)
One of Oregon’s wolf packs is one
livestock attack away from becoming the first to be considered for a
kill order under the state’s unique rules.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife
said Wednesday that the Umatilla Pack, which roams mostly private land
about 30 miles west of Pendleton, has been confirmed responsible for
killing a sheep last week in a private pasture. Two other attacks
occurred in June.
The state cannot kill a wolf unless three
conditions are met: There’s hard evidence the pack is responsible for
four livestock attacks over the past six months, the rancher has taken
nonlethal steps to protect his livestock, and the department feels wolf
attacks are likely to continue even with more nonlethal protections. “Under these rules, the key consideration
for lethal control or any other actions will be to take an action that
minimizes the risk of further depredation,” department spokeswoman
Michelle Dennehy said in an email. The rules were adopted last year as the result of a lawsuit by conservation groups.
Joseph cattle rancher Todd Nash said he was
looking forward to the day when Oregon’s wolves are numerous enough to
be taken off the state endangered species list, and the Oregon Wolf Plan
would go into Phase Two, when lethal control rules would ease. That could happen after this winter’s
statewide wolf count. The Oregon Wolf Plan sets a goal of four packs
successfully producing pups for three consecutive years before delisting
can be considered. That has been met the past two years.
Dennehy said delisting is not automatic,
and would have to go through a public process. Even under Phase Two,
there would be rules for considering lethal control, though they would
be less stringent than they are now.
Rob Klavins of the conservation group
Oregon Wild said they would prefer a science-based conservation goal for
delisting, rather than one set by political negotiation. “Oregon is doing better than any other
state in trying to balance legitimate concerns with science-based
conservation and Oregon conservation values,” he said. “It isn’t
perfect, but it’s better than any other state.”
Overall, the number of confirmed wolves
statewide has grown from 48 in 2012 to 64 last year. The number of packs
grew from six to eight, though only four successfully raised pups last
year.
So far this year, there have been six
confirmed wolf attacks on livestock in Oregon, according to the
department website. There were 13 in 2013, eight in 2012, and 10 in
2011. Other packs have come within one attack of coming under
consideration for lethal control.
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