3 Articles on Oregon Wolf Migration
Agency seeks local input on Oregon wolf migration
Published: November 19, 2002
By Rachel Odell
The Bulletin
Wolf packs may not currently live in Oregon, but state wildlife officials
want to know how residents will react if the wild animals colonize to the
Beaver State.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials will hold a 7 p.m.
meeting Wednesday at the National Guard Armory at 875 SW Simpson Ave. to
hear what Central Oregonians think of wolves.
This is the fifth in a series of 14 town hall meetings being held
throughout the state. Officials will record comments at the meeting and
deliver them to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, the rule-making
body for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
State officials must decide how they will manage wolves when they migrate
into the state. In recent months, officials have heard from wolf experts
about the potential impact.
Currently, no confirmed wolf packs live in Oregon, but the animals have
been here in the past. In 1999 and 2000 three wolves were found in Oregon.
One was hit by a car and died in May 2000, another was shot in October
2000 and still another that had a radio collar was captured and returned
to Idaho.
State officials emphasize that they have no plans to reintroduce wolves
into the state. However, wolves migrating out of Idaho will naturally
travel west into wilderness areas in Washington and Oregon, wolf
biologists say.
Wolves that enter the state from Idaho’s packs are protected under both
the state and federal endangered species acts.
Wednesday’s meeting will open with a presentation about the history of
wolves in Oregon, their current status and the issues surrounding
migration into Oregon.
More information about wolves is available at www.dfw.state.or.us.
An Introduction to Oregon Wolf Issues
Due to the current success of gray wolf reintroduction by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service in central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park, the
numbers of wolves and the range they cover are expanding.
Current federal law states that wolf populations in the tri-state recovery
area (Idaho, Wyoming and Montana) must achieve 30 breeding pairs,
equitably distributed for three years, before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service can initiate a proposal to delist the species. An estimated 575
wolves in 35 or more packs have been documented in the recovery area as of
the end of 2001. These numbers mean the federal delisting process could
begin as early as 2003.
In Idaho alone, wolf populations have increased significantly during the
past several years. The fall 1998 population was estimated to be 114
animals. The fall 2001 population was estimated to be 261 wolves. As a
result of this continued growth in numbers, biologists expect wolves to
eventually begin dispersing from Idaho into Oregon.
The following information provides some background on the history of
wolves in Oregon, their current biological and legal status, and issues
surrounding their migration into Oregon.
1. The gray wolf has been extirpated from Oregon for more than 50 years,
meaning the species is native to Oregon, but no longer is found here.
2.The gray wolf is listed as ‘endangered’ under the federal Endangered
Species Act (ESA).
3.Wild wolves that enter the state are fully protected by the ESA, which
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has legal authority to
administer and enforce.
4.The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission also classifies the wolf as an
endangered species under the Oregon Endangered Species Act.
5.According to the ODFW Wildlife Diversity Plan, the agency strives to
reintroduce extirpated native species whenever possible. However, the
agency has no reintroduction plans for wolves. The Diversity Plan predicts
that there is no year-round habitat in Oregon that would allow wolves to
exist without conflict with land uses already in place. Based on the
experiences of the USFWS and those states that currently with wolves
within their boundaries, conflicts have included livestock depredation,
livestock harassment, and changes to deer and elk populations.
6.In February 1999, a radio-collared gray wolf from Idaho entered Oregon,
resulting in heightened public interest and concern among residents of
northeast Oregon and members of the livestock industry. The female wolf,
identified by USFWS as B-45, was eventually captured in March 1999 by a
helicopter net gun crew near the Middle Fork John Day River and returned
to Idaho.
7.Subsequently, two confirmed wolves have been found dead in Oregon. In
May 2000 a collared wolf was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 84 south of
Baker City, and in October 2000 an uncollared wolf was found shot between
Ukiah and Pendleton.
8.During the past two years, the USFWS has received approximately 60
reports of wolf or wolf track sightings in eastern Oregon. Based on
interviews conducted by USFWS of those who reported the sightings, it is
believed that some observations could be of dispersing wolves from Idaho.
However, there are no confirmed live wild wolves in Oregon at this time.
9.To facilitate growing interest and concern for wolves in Oregon, the
USFWS formed the Oregon Wolf Information Group, which is composed of
representatives of many interested and affected parties. Members represent
the Oregon Cattlemen Association, Oregon Woolgrowers, Oregon Hunter
Association, Foundation of North American Wild Sheep, Defenders of
Wildlife, Hells Canyon Preservation Council, Wolf Haven, Umatilla Tribe,
Nez Perce Tribe, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department
of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, U.S.
Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and county commissioners. The
group has met seven times since January 2000 and has addressed specific
issues such as control actions, monitoring, depredation and
reclassification of wolves. Attendance has been strong and interactions
between the various groups generally have been positive.
10.In Oregon, USDA Wildlife Services is the agency responsible for
investigating wolf depredation complaints. The agency’s ability to respond
may be hampered due to lack of personnel and equipment. Currently, the
agency does not maintain personnel in three of the easternmost Oregon
counties with the greatest potential for wolf-related actions (Baker,
Union and Grant counties).
11.Wolves in Idaho are classified ‘experimental non-essential,’ a special
status that enabled wolf re-introduction efforts to move forward. This
status allows more flexibility in dealing with wolf depredations or other
conflicts. The USFWS has pledged cooperation in dealing with verified wolf
depredations in Oregon. At this time they have no plans to return wolves
dispersing into Oregon back to Idaho. If a wolf in Oregon becomes involved
in a depredation situation, the USFWS will take the lead in managing the
situation.
12. Research conducted on wolves from 1979 through the late 1990s
indicates that wolves, once given an opportunity, will establish new packs
by dispersing into new areas. The average pack size ranges from three to
19 wolves, according to a 1999 study of wolves in the central Rocky
Mountains.
13.Wolves’ diet in Idaho and Yellowstone varies between elk and mule deer,
with elk being the primary diet item in both states. Studies have found
that wolves prey upon the old, sick and young portions of the elk and deer
populations.
Wolf Public Meetings
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host 14 town hall meetings
throughout the state in November and December to hear the thoughts,
concerns and comments of Oregonians about wolves entering the state.
The comments recorded at the meetings will be provided to the Oregon Fish
and Wildlife Commission for consideration. The seven-member Commission,
which is the rule-making body for ODFW, has heard from experts in the past
several months about the potential for wolves to become established in
Oregon. The Commission now wants to hear from local residents to ensure
that all opinions have been gathered.
Public Meeting Schedule.
All meetings begin at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002
Pendleton
Pendleton Convention Center
1601 Westgate
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002
LaGrande
Eastern Oregon University Hoke Hall, Room 309
One University Blvd
Monday, Nov. 18, 2002
Baker City
Sun Ridge Inn, One Sun Ridge Lane
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2002
John Day
Malheur National Forest Headquarters
431 Patterson Bridge Road
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2002
Bend
National Guard Armory Drill Room
875 Southwest Simpson Ave.
Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002
The Dalles
Wahtonka High School
3601 W. 10th St.
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002
Medford
North Medford High School
1900 N. Keeneway
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002
Klamath Falls
Klamath County Fairgrounds
Exhibit Hall #2
3531 S. 6th St.
Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002
Burns
Harney County Senior Center
17 S. Alder
Monday, Dec. 9, 2002
Eugene
Lane Community College
Forum and Science Buildings
4000 E. 30th Ave.
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002
Roseburg
Umpqua Community College, Whipple Theater Building
1140 College Road
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002
Salem
Claggett Creek Middle School 1810 Alder St. N.E.
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002
Portland
World Forestry Center
Miller Hall
4033 S.W. Canyon Road
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002
Coos Bay
Southwestern Oregon Community College, Eden Hall
2988 Newmark Ave.