SALEM, Oregon – The Oregon Wolf Report for 2017 offers an in-depth look at the gray wolf in the state. Locally, one change is that an area of Morrow County is no longer designated as an Area of Known Wolf Activity.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife discontinued the AKWA designation because no wolves have been seen after tracks were found early last year. Speculation is the wolves were just passing through.
ODFW also reports that more than $252,000 was shelled out to counties throughout the state for wolf-caused livestock losses last year. The biggest paycheck went to Umatilla County at just under $97,000.
The Oregon State University researchers studying how wolves and cougars compete for food have completed their field studies and returned from the Mt. Emily unit to Corvallis. Their final study is expected to be released later this year.
A Umatilla County wolf made the cover of the new report. The breeding female from the Walla Walla Pack is shown in the northern part of the county. The complete 2017 Wolf Report can be accessed at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/Wolves/docs/2017%20Annual%20Wolf%20Report%20180405%20FINAL.PDF