by RALPH MAUGHAN
Action shows fragile nature of state level wolf recovery?
Friday in Bend, OR the state’s wildlife and fish commissioners launched a process to delist wolves from Oregon’s State Endangered Species Act. Oregon only has about 80-90 wolves (77 at the end of 2014), but the state rule for delisting wolves mandates the consideration of delisting when the goal of four breeding pairs for three consecutive years in eastern Oregon is reached. The goal was reached this year.
This goal is only about a fourth of the number for delisting that needed to be met under the federal plan in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. The current wolf population in Oregon is not at all evenly distributed. The large majority of wolves are in northeastern Oregon. They are concentrated hard up against the Washington and Idaho borders. Until recently there were no wolves in the famed backcountry and wilds of the Cascade Mountains in western Oregon. Now there is OR-7s pack, the Rogue Pack (with pups), and perhaps one or two more that might jell into packs. Nonetheless the map of the pack locations shows the state’s wolf recovery is anything but statewide.
The commission set studies of two plans for delisting. One is to delist the wolf all over Oregon. The other will be delisting for part of the state. In addition, the option to maintain protections will still be on the table. There was no date set by the commission for completion or for action.
The hearing in Bend was dominated by those in favor of wolves. The count was about 33-5.
Oregon’s wolf population has been growing consistently at a moderate rate, but slower than in the original states where wolves were reintroduced from Canada (Idaho and Wyoming). Beginning with 14 wolves in 2009, the numbers by year were 14 21 29 48 64 77. In addition to having a less ambitious goal for consideration of delisting than Idaho, Montana or Wyoming, Oregon’s attainment of the breeding pairs criterion was aided by a relatively tolerant rule for sparing wolves that kill livestock. As a result, the number of breeding pairs over time was not repeatedly set back to zero as it was in the three original states.
There are three wolf management zones in Oregon. Two of the three are protected by both the federal act and the state law. These two, however, have by far the fewest wolves. The most easterly zone is where 90% of the wolves live. This zone has Oregon state ESA protection only.