Oregon’s only breeding pair of wolves has done it again.
Oregon Fish and Wildlife says the Imnaha pack has – at least – four new wolf pups this year.
The photos of the pups romping through a field in Wallowa County are sure to delight environmentalists, and to dismay many Northeast Oregon ranchers.
This photo of the four new wolf pups was taken July 3, 2010. From ODFW.
The rumors of new pups had been circulating in the area for several weeks, but ODFW didn’t have visual confirmation until a remote camera snapped these images early in July.
ODFW says six of the adult members were also spotted in the photos, including the alpha female. But the alpha male was not seen, adding to the worries about his safety. The male hasn’t been spotted since his tracking collar went silent in late May.
Two of the Imnaha wolf pups. ODFW photo taken July 3, 2010.
Oregon Wolves By The Numbers
2: The number of wolf packs in Oregon. One of them is in the Imnaha Wildlife Management Area and the other is in the Wenaha Wildlife Management Area. Both packs in are Northeast Oregon in Wallowa and Union counties.
14: That’s how many wolves are believed to be part of the Imnaha pack. The number could be higher if ODFW camera’s haven’t spotted all of the new pups. There could be less depending on the fate of the alpha male.
4: The number of wolves in the Wenaha pack. There’s no evidence that this pack has successfully bred.
18-24: An estimate of how many wolves there are in the state. In addition to the 18 wolves in the Imnaha and Wenaha packs, ODFW and U.S. Fish and Wildlife are tracking a small number of lone wolves in Oregon. There’s credible evidence that some of these wolves have roamed as far west as the Santiam Pass.
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THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS.I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF RANCHERS NOT LIKING THE NEWS BUT IF IT CAN WORK IN MINNESOTA IT CAN WORK ANYWHERE.WE HAVE MADE THE DOG MANS BEST FRIEND BUT YET SOME PEOPLE STILL HATE WOLVES……….WHY????????
YAY!!! This is the most beautiful site ive yet to see in Oregon although there are a great many beautiful places, if this is how they feel about this breed, Im definately vacationing there! Im in California, so close enough to load up the cabover and just go see the sites! Expect me next spring/summer, I have to get over surgeries before I can travel but then Im there!