By Steve Tool
Wallowa County Chieftain
Pair of depredations trigger request, but ODFW says criteria not met.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife denied a lethal-action request made by Wallowa rancher Levi Hermens stemming from a Nov. 19 confirmed wolf depredation that injured a calf. Hermens also reported a depredation for an injured calf on the Imnaha Divide U.S. Forest Service allotment the previous week on Nov. 11. Both injuries were attributed to a wolf or wolves from the Imnaha pack.
Wallowa County Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Fred Steen said the evidence left little doubt in his mind that wolves were responsible for the latest depredation.
“It was obvious it had been chewed on,” Steen said. “I certainly confirmed it.”
Steen suggested ODFW officials may classify the two depredations under the same event.
ODFW Assistant District Wildlife Biologist Mike Hansen confirmed the depredation and said the two calves were probably attacked at the same time, with the former calf sustaining the most damage.
“The initial report was that wolves were chasing two calves,” Hansen said. “We went out and found the first one. (The rancher) found the second one. We determined from the age of the wounds on the animal that it was probably from the same incident.”
District Wildlife Biologist Pat Matthews said it’s not unusual for wolves to attack without necessarily killing and eating their prey.
“It’s hard to know not being there, but wolves are wired to attack things,” Matthews said. “Sometimes they attack and kill and eat things right there. Sometimes they chase and bite and move on. Maybe these calves were too much for them. We don’t know how many wolves were involved.”
Since wildlife officials are working under Phase II of the state wolf management plan, the recent depredations may have warranted lethal action against the pack. Under Phase II, the stock owner has to request the lethal action, as Hermens did in this case. The decision regarding potential lethal action is not made locally. Rather, it is submitted up the chain of command, culminating at the director’s office.
On Nov. 24, the ODFW denied Hermens’ lethal action request, citing three reasons:
• The cattle already are off of the allotment, so there’s no livestock present that requires protection from future depredation. “Next spring it’s a different story,” Hansen said.
• The cattle were supposed to be removed from the allotment by Oct. 21. Because the presence of the cattle was not legal, no action could be taken. Hansen said ultimate confirmation of the depredation is not affected by the removal deadline.
• The type and scope of non-lethal measures taken by Hermens to prevent depredations was vague.
The state last took lethal action against wolves in May of 2011 when two wolves of the Imnaha pack were killed by ODFW officials.
Hermens declined to comment on the depredations or the denial of his request for lethal action.