Eric Mortenson
Capital Press
Look for stormy public hearings if Oregon considers removing wolves from the state endangered species list in 2015.
Oregon’s long-running debate over wolves won’t end any time soon, as two controversial issues will be decided by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife in the coming year.
Most important, it’s likely the state will consider removing gray wolves from the state endangered species list in 2015. A count underway is expected to show Oregon has at least four breeding pairs for the third consecutive year, which under the state wolf plan triggers consideration of delisting.
Delisting would eliminate endangered species status for wolves in the Northeastern third of the state, where they are concentrated and have been involved in numerous livestock attacks. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has already delisted wolves in Northeast Oregon, but they have remained under state Endangered Species Act protection. Wolves in the rest of Oregon — such as well-traveled OR-7 and his mate and pups in the Southwest Oregon Cascades — remain covered under the federal ESA.
A breeding pair is defined as a male and female who produce at least two pups that survive to the end of the year, Dec. 31. Oregon had six breeding pairs in 2012 and four in 2013. Researchers have documented pups in nine Oregon packs this year, but the official count won’t be completed until winter.
Wolf program coordinator Russ Morgan said if the reproduction standard is met, ODFW staff will propose the department’s commission begin the delisting process. A decision could be made by May or June, 2015.
The ODFW commission is not required to delist wolves, however, and the decision would be made in a public process.
The second issue data location information from wolves wearing GPS collars. Oregon Cattlemen’s Association members have asked that data be released to the public. Ranchers now receive email or text messages – usually several hours after the fact – when collared wolves are within pre-defined geographic polygons. More than 83,000 messages were sent livestock producers in three counties in 2013.
Producers are now asking for more pinpoint location information, saying it would allow them to make more timely and precise decisions about deploying a range rider or taking other action to move or protect livestock.
The conservation group Oregon Wild strongly opposes the idea. In a Sept. 18 letter to the commission, Conservation Director Steve Pedery said the information might be used by poachers.
“Wolves continue to be at the center of a campaign of purposeful misinformation and fear,” Pedery wrote. “Social media, truck bumpers and coffeeshop chatter in some communities is rife with talk of the poachers’ code to ‘shoot, shovel and shut up.’”
He said “well-intentioned and malicious actors alike” might use location information for wolves and other wildlife.
“Can hunters request information about collared animals?” he asked. “Can environmental activists request information to volunteer to reduce depredations, prevent poaching and safeguard wildlife? Photographers? Students? Reporters? Tourism outfits?”
The commission has not taken action on the data location issue.