By Richard Cockle, The Oregonian
LA GRANDE – Domestic sheep and cattle have been taking hits from gray wolves this month in northeastern Oregon, and at least one young wolf has died, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Four sheep were confirmed killed, another was injured and still another is missing north of Pendleton, the department confirmed this week. Wolf tracks were found at the scene, and radio-collar data showed at least one wolf from the Umatilla River pack was in that area the night of the attacks, said biologists.
Meanwhile, a rancher’s yearling cow was killed by Imnaha Pack wolves in Wallowa County on May 15, the department reported. Evidence of at least two wolves was discovered at the scene, according to biologists.
Five days earlier, ODFW biologists confirmed a rancher’s calf was bitten on a hind leg by a wolf, but was expected to survive.
Biologists found a radio-collared Wenaha pack wolf known as OR19 dead of unknown causes in the Sled Springs game management unit of Wallowa County May 19, the department reported. Foul play was not suspected.
The wolf, a 55-pound yearling female, had been trapped by ODFW biologists eight days earlier in the Sled Springs area and released with a GPS radio collar, the department said. The capture went well and the wolf appeared healthy and unharmed, said biologists.
However, on May 17, the collar emitted a “mortality message,” indicating it had been stationary for an extended period. When biologists investigated, they found the wolf had died.
OR-19’s carcass is being examined to deterine the cause of death.
Biologists found a new pair of wolves last month in the Mount Emily area of Union County. The wolves, probably a male and female, trotted onto private land near the Grande Ronde Valley, but may have since moved into higher-elevation forests away from the valley, said biologists.
Biologists also trapped and GPS-collared an adult breeding female belonging to the Minam pack in Wallowa County, reported the department. That pack frequents the 560-square mile Eagle Cap Wilderness and was discovered last year, the biologist said. This 81-pound animal is the first wolf from the pack to be radio-collared.