Eric Mortenson
Capital Press
State wildlife officials believe an attack on sheep was the work of Northeastern Oregon’s Umatilla Pack.
Three sheep died and a fourth was injured in what state wildlife officials said was a wolf attack.
A sheepherder working on private land in the Weston Mountain area of Northeast Oregon found three injured sheep July 2. One died shortly after being found, one was euthanized due to its injuries and the the third was treated. A dead lamb, partially consumed, was found the next day in the same area.
Based on the size of bite marks and the nature of wounds inflicted, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife investigators concluded one or more wolves were responsible.
An ODFW news release said the site is within the home range of the Umatilla River pack, which has attacked sheep in the past. No radio collar or GPS tracking information was available, but investigators believe the attack was done by sub-adult members of the pack.