SALEM, Oregon – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed that a wolf was killed by a herder while it was attacking a sheep on the south fork of the Walla Walla River on private land on May 20. The herder shot one of four wolves that he found attacking the lamb. One of those wolves had the lamb, which perished, in its mouth.
The Oregon State Police investigated and determined it was a lawful take under the “caught in the act” provision. That rule allows livestock producers to shoot a wolf that is caught in the act of wounding, biting, killing or chasing livestock under certain circumstances.
The confirmed kill of the lamb was credited to Umatilla County’s Walla Walla wolf pack. OR-40, who has a collar, was present within 50 yards of the area where the sheep were bedding at the time of the attack.
When ODFW investigators arrived on May 21, they found a drag trail with small bits of bone, blood and wool in it. The top of the drag trail had a scuffle area consistent with a struggle associated with wolf depredation.