George Plaven
East Oregonian
It’s been a busy week for Greg Rimbach.
As acting assistant wolf coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, Rimbach reviewed three reports of livestock depredation over a span of three days from June 20-22. Two of the cases — one involving a dead calf in Wallowa County, the other three sheep and a guard dog in Umatilla County — were confirmed wolf attacks.
“It seems everything happens at once,” Rimbach said. “For whatever reason, they all bunch up.”
The outcome of these investigations will ultimately determine whether ODFW can kill wolves that make a habit of preying on livestock, something Eastern Oregon ranchers say they need to minimize losses and protect their livelihood.
Yet despite the recent flurry of wolf activity, less than one-third of all depredation reports dating back to 2011 were actually confirmed. Confirmation takes “reasonable physical evidence” of a wolf attack, according to ODFW, which can include tracks, bite marks, scat or GPS collar data. Otherwise the incident is labeled as “probable,” “possible/unknown” or “other.”
Rimbach said investigations have remained consistent over the years. If a livestock producer finds a dead or injured animal and suspects wolves, they can call their local ODFW district office and a wildlife biologist arrives, usually within 24 hours.
“We have no option to do anything other than investigate,” Rimbach said.
ODFW has investigated 10 incidents so far in 2015. Of those, only the two in the past week were confirmed wolf attacks — the first since September 2014.
The first came on Saturday along the Rock Creek drainage in Wallowa County. A local rancher reported finding one of his calves partially eaten, and investigators found wolf tracks near the carcass as well as bite marks consistent with the predators. GPS coordinates also showed a member of the Sled Springs pair within five miles of the carcass the previous day.
Two days later, wolves from the Mount Emily pack killed three sheep and a guard dog on public land near Ruckel Junction in Umatilla County. Evidence once again included fresh tracks, bite marks and GPS coordinates.
Rimbach, who also works as an assistant wildlife biologist for ODFW in Pendleton, said he has conducted 57 investigations personally. Most take about two hours of work in the field, from securing the scene to taking numerous photographs and measurements.
“We are not trying to confirm when we get out there if it’s a wolf (attack) or not,” he said. “What we’re trying to confirm is why this animal is dead or injured. All the evidence we gather leads us down the right path.”
Todd Nash, a Wallowa County rancher and chairman of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association wolf committee, said producers still feel ODFW is reluctant to confirm a wolf kill on their livestock.
Since 2011, the agency has confirmed 42 depredations out of 150 investigations, or 28 percent. Another 10 were ruled probable, and 59 possible or unknown.
Nash pointed to one particular case earlier this year in Wallowa County. Evidence overwhelmingly indicated a wolf attack on a calf, he said, but since a coyote had also fed on the carcass it was ruled “probable.”
ODFW recently moved to Phase II of the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, which allows the agency greater flexibility to kill problem wolves if biologists confirm two wolf predations in the area, as opposed to four incidents within a six-month period. Ranchers must satisfy additional criteria that include non-lethal deterrents and removing attractants.
Nash has joked it would be easier to get O.J. Simpson convicted of murder than it is to get a confirmed wolf kill.
“There’s a level of frustration that’s as high as it’s been,” Nash said. “If we are going to have wolves in the state of Oregon, we need to be able to get rid of wolves that are depredators of livestock. That needs to be addressed.”
Rob Klavins, northeast Oregon field coordinator for the group Oregon Wild, said nobody — including conservationists — want to see livestock killed and praised ODFW for being the most transparent and least biased of the investigating agencies.
Though the wolf population is rising, Klavins said the fact they are seeing fewer confirmed attacks on livestock is something to celebrate.
“I like to think, with the rules of the wolf plan, people are honoring the spirit and letter of those rules and focusing on non-lethal measures,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re seeing what everybody says they want, which is wolf recovery and reduced conflict.”
The conversation comes against the backdrop of whether or not the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will decide this year to remove wolves from the state Endangered Species List east of highways 395, 78 and 95. ODFW recommended delisting in April.
Rimbach said their wolf-livestock investigations have nothing to do with whether the state will delist or not.
“We treat these investigations just like if somebody was shot in town,” he said. “We’re getting better at it. The more frequently we’re out there, the more we learn.”
ODFW posts all of its depredation investigation reports online at www.dfw.state.or.us/Wolves.
Wolf-livestock investigation breakdown
Since 2011, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife has investigated 150 reports of wolves killing or injuring livestock. Less than one-third have been confirmed wolf attacks. The rest are categorized as “probable,” “possible/unknown” or “other.”
2015 (through June 24): 10 investigations
Confirmed: 2
Probable: 1
Possible/unknown: 2
Other: 5
2014: 34 investigations
Confirmed: 11
Probable: 2
Possible/unknown: 9
Other: 12
2013: 41 investigations
Confirmed: 13
Probable: 2
Possible/unknown: 13
Other: 13
2012: 33 investigations
Confirmed: 8
Probable: 4
Possible/unknown: 4
Other: 17
2011: 32 investigations
Confirmed: 8
Probable: 1
Possible/unknown: 18
Other: 5