Elk NetworkOregon, Washington Approve Removal of Problem Wolves

General | August 27, 2021

Both the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) authorized the removal of wolves continually involved in livestock depredations.

Oregon killed two juvenile wolves in Baker County from the Lookout Mt. Pack which previously killed or injured five cows in five different incidents over a two-week period. Nonlethal measures continued during the permit period and continue to date, with livestock producers continuing their high level of daily human presence, hazing wolves, removing injured cattle, moving cattle to different pastures, and coordinating with other landowners and ODFW biologists to focus nonlethal activities in the appropriate areas.

ODFW issued an additional permit due to another livestock depredation by the pack on August 19, 2021.

WDFW authorized the lethal removal of one to two wolves from the Togo pack territory in response to repeated depredations of cattle on public and private grazing lands in Ferry County. The action comes despite a series of non-lethal deterrents used by the three affected livestock producers.

Lethal removal of the wolves is not expected to harm the wolf population’s ability to reach the statewide or local recovery objectives.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation supports the management of all wildlife by state wildlife agencies.

(Photo source:  Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)