A wolverine in Yellowstone National Park. Photo from National Park Service.

A researcher working with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says she’s found the first ever confirmed wolverine tracks in Wallowa County.

Dr. Audrey Magoun found the tracks almost a week ago while hiking through the snow in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. She was able to follow them for about a mile. Judging by their size, she thinks they were left by a male.

This is not just the first set of tracks for Wallowa County, but one of the few signs of wolverines in Oregon in more than 75 years.

The wolverine tracks in the snow. Dr. Magoun’s glove is at left for size comparison. Photo from ODFW.

Wolverines are holdovers from the ice age, which is why they live at high elevations with cold and snowy climates. Magoun, along with her fellow researcher and husband Pat Valkenburg, began looking for wolverines in the Wallowas on a hunch that this area was good habitat for them.

“There is a breeding population in the Payette Forest in Idaho and a breeding population in the North Cascades in Washington,” she says. “In fact, we couldn’t believe wolverine wouldn’t be here. They travel large distances.”

What they don’t know is whether this is a lone wolverine just passing through the area – or if he’s here to stay – or if there are others who’ve formed a permanent population.

Wolverines were once widespread across North America, but probably not in great numbers. Trapping and poisoning killed off most of them and it’s believed only a few hundred remain in the lower 48 states. Oregon’s population was wiped out in the 1930s.

Despite their small numbers, they are not protected by the Endangered Species Act.

Researchers Dr. Audrey Magoun and Pat Valkenburg set up a typical wolverine camera site. Photo from ODFW.

The couple has set up more than a dozen baited remote cameras throughout the Wallowas for a visual capture of one of these elusive animals. So far, no luck. But they’ve photographed plenty of American marten and a few native red foxes.

They plan to return to Wallowa County next winter and continue their search.

Funding and logistical support for the survey comes from an Oregon Conservation Strategy Implementation Grant (federal State Wildlife Grant), The Wolverine Foundation, Inc., the Wildlife Conservation Society and private individuals including Magoun and Valkenburg, Alaska residents, who use their own plane for aerial surveys.

Shot on December 30, it gives us a close up look at three members of the Imnaha wolf pack in Northeast Oregon. That includes the alpha female and a pair of one year old pups. By now, the pups are full grown.

ODFW says it counted 16 pack members, bigger than previously believed. The agency thinks the pack produced six pups last year instead of four.

This is the wolf that was found dead on September 30. The photo was taken in early August when it was captured and fitted with a radio collar. ODFW photo.

The reward for information about the illegal killing of a wolf in Northeast Oregon has increased to $10,000.

Conservation groups kicked in $7,500 on Friday. That’s on top of the $2,500 reward offered by the federal government.

After days of speculation and rumors, U.S. Fish and Wildlife confirmed that an adult male member of the Wenaha wolf pack was found dead in the Umatilla National Forest on September 30. The agency says it hasn’t determined how it died. But Oregon Wild claims the wolf was shot to death.

This is the third known poaching of a wolf in Oregon since they started returning to the state about 10 years ago. Gray wolves are protected by federal and Oregon endangered species laws. It’s illegal to kill one without a permit. The federal penalty alone could reach go as high as $100,000 and a year in jail.

Conservation groups say they’re appalled by the news.

“It’s infuriating when any animal is senselessly and illegally killed, but the facts in this case are especially egregious,” says Wally Sykes of Northeast Oregon Ecosystems of Joseph, Oregon. “The biologists had just fitted this endangered wolf with a hard-to-miss collar and sent out photos printed in newspapers and websites across the state. Whoever shot this wolf knew what they were doing and just didn’t care that it was illegal.”

The irony is that the Wenaha wolf pack hasn’t been a problem for Northeast Oregon ranchers. The pack keeps to itself in the high country and has never attacked livestock. The Imnaha pack, on the other hand, killed at least six or seven calves this year in Wallowa County.

And while some wolf opponents may praise the killing, the person responsible for the wolf’s death may not be doing them much of a favor. Oregon’s wolf management plan gives ranchers more freedom to deal with wolves as their numbers increase. Killing them now keeps them on the Endangered Species list at least a little bit longer, and puts off the day when ranchers have the legal right to act on their own.

This is the wolf Oregon Wild says was killed by a poacher. Authorities have not confirmed the information. ODFW photo.

Update: The Associated Press has ODFW on the record as confirming the death, and that it is the adult male shown on the left. But still no comment about how the wolf died.

Trying to sort out reports that one of Oregon’s wolves – a member of the Wenaha pack – has been found shot to death.

The LaGrande Observer reports that the wolf was found Thursday by an employee of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Umatilla National Forest near Jarboe Meadow.

OPB says the wolf is the same one shown in the photo to the left, an adult male that was outfitted with a radio collar in early August.

But the most disturbing claim comes from Oregon Wild. In an email, the group says the wolf was found shot to death, and blames a poacher for the kill.

Oregon Wild says this is the third kill of a wolf since they returned to Oregon.

So far, neither Federal or State officials have confirmed the news.

The senseless killing of any wolf is bad enough, but the killing of this particular wolf is especially egregious. Oregon has only two known packs. The Wenaha Pack has stayed in the high country and never caused any conflict with ranchers or livestock. The pack has three pups and the image of the silver male with his unforgettable eyes has been printed far and wide.

-Oregon Wild

If the LaGrande Observer is correct about the timing, the wolf was found the day before Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a new wolf management plan. The plan underwent a five year review during 2010, and the updated version makes it easier for ranchers to harass wolves and for wildlife officials to take lethal action against wolves.

Meanwhile, the Wallowa Chieftain says wolf attacks on livestock have resumed in Wallowa County. According to the paper, a total of ten calves have been killed by wolves this year. Consider that an estimate since wildlife officials don’t always agree on when wolves are responsible for livestock losses. Earlier this year, ODFW confirmed six kills while federal officials from USDA Wildlife Services claimed there were nine kills.

This male wolf from Wenaha pack was fitted with a radio collar on Aug. 4, 2010. ODFW photo.

On Thursday, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission takes a look at a new Wolf Management Plan.

For those who care about the future of wolves in our state, this is the moment we’ve been waiting for. The agenda includes time for comments from the public. Wolf supporters – and detractors – are hoping for a good turnout so the Commission can finally hear what Oregonians think about this very controversial issue.

For the most part, this new plan was put together behind the scenes. It’s true that ODFW staff talked with interest groups, such as environmentalists and ranchers. It’s also true that they asked for the public to send in comments. At last word, more than 22,000 Oregonians took the time to put their thoughts down on paper or email. But there were never any public hearings. And the release of the new plan was not well publicized or explained.

From what I know, there are no major changes in the new plan. As far as environmentalists are concerned, that’s mostly good news. They’re generally supportive of it, though they think ODFW makes it too easy to kill wolves that are suspected of attacking livestock.

Oregon Wild sent out this list of bullet points to supporters earlier this week.

• Most Oregonians value native wildlife and welcome wolves back. The wolf plan is already a major compromise and should be strengthened. We must not make it any easier to kill wolves.
• The wolf plan must be fully funded and prioritize non-lethal methods over killing wolves in all phases of the plan.
• Wolves on public land should not be killed.
• Wildlife Services has demonstrated their incompetence and uncomfortably close ties to those who wish to kill wolves. Their role in confirming depredations must be limited or eliminated.

-Oregon Wild email

Ranchers have never been happy with Oregon’s wolf plan and see it as something that’s been forced upon them. They want to make it easier to kill wolves that are caught attacking livestock, and to be able to hunt them in nearby areas. They also want to make it easier to delist wolves under state law. As they see it, wolves are “terrorizing” Eastern Oregon.

The updated wolf plan gives ranchers a little of what they want.

Details:

Fish and Wildlife Commission Meeting
Washington County Fair Complex
Cloverleaf Building
873 N.E. 34th Avenue
Hillsboro, Oregon 97124

The day long meeting starts at 8:00am, but the Commission isn’t expected to look at the Wolf Plan until after lunch.

Reading Material:

What Oregonians Really Think About Their Wolves

Oregon Wild: Bringing Wolves Back Home to Oregon

Oregon Cattlemen’s Association: Wolves In Oregon

(FYI: The Cattlemen’s page has a what appears to be a major factual error. It says nothing was done after wolves killed 25 head of livestock in Oregon. Those attacks took place last year in the Keating Valley near Baker City and the two wolves that were responsible were hunted down and killed. See Oregon Wolves Killed By Wildlife Officials. It also says that wolves in Wallowa County are killing livestock “every few days.” While that’s true for the month of May, the last reported attack was on June 4. Despite the factual errors, I respect the group’s point of view on the issue and included the link for that reason.)

The three photos, released late Wednesday afternoon, show the two pups born this year to the Wenaha wolf pack in Northeast Oregon.

ODFW captured, weighed and measured, then released the pups last Friday.

As far as anyone knows, these are the first two pups born in the Wenaha pack. ODFW says they appeared healthy. They were too young to be collared, but an adult in the pack was outfitted with a radio collar earlier this month.

There are three photos to show you.

In this image, wildlife officials are weighing one of the Wenaha pups. ODFW photo.

One of the two Wenaha pack wolf pups. ODFW photo.

A Wenaha wolf pup being released. ODFW photo.

Combined with the four new pups in the Imnaha pack, Oregon’s small population of wolves has at least 20 members, up from 14 last year.

Related Stories:

New Photo of Oregon’s “Lost” Wolf

Two New Wolf Pups In Eastern Oregon

What Oregonians Really Think About Their Wolves

The alpha male of the Imnaha wolf pack is in the foreground, still wearing his radio collar. The alpha female is in the background. The image was recorded by a trail camera on August 11, 2010. ODFW photo.

ODFW just released this photo showing the alpha male of the Imnaha pack in Wallowa County. The photo was taken a couple of weeks ago as he and the alpha female stepped  in front of a trail camera.

If you’ve been following the wolf news this summer, you’ll remember that his radio collar stopped transmitting in late May. He went missing just as the controversy over wolf attacks on livestock was reaching the boiling point. So there was some concern he’d been killed by a poacher. ODFW was saying all along that a broken collar was a far more likely explanation. Turns out they appear to be correct. You can see him wearing the collar in the photo.

Still waiting for photos of the two new wolf pups in the Wenaha pack.

The alpha female of the Imnaha pack, also known as OR 200. ODFW photo.

On the same night, the camera snapped a new photo of OR 200, the alpha female of the Imnaha pack.

So far this year, we’ve seen photos of the alpha pair, plus four adults and four pups of the Imnaha pack. Hopefully that’s a sign they’re doing well.

And there’s some good news to report on Oregon’s other wolf pack. After being missing for almost three months, the alpha male of the Imnaha pack has been located.

This adult male from Wenaha pack was fitted with a radio collar on Aug. 4, 2010. ODFW photo.

The Wenaha Pups

ODFW says Wolf Coordinator Russ Morgan captured the pups on Friday. They were weighed and measured, appeared to be in good health, and then released. Although Morgan trapped two pups, it’s possible there are more. ODFW believes the Wenaha pack has three or four adults.

The uncertainty over the numbers shows how little we know about the Wenaha pack. That’s why ODFW was so excited a few weeks ago when one of the adults was captured and wildlife officials were able to outfit him with a tracking collar. The collar makes it much easier to monitor the pack. It may have been a big reason why ODFW was able to locate the pups.

ODFW says it will release the photos of the two Wenaha pups later today. I’ll post them as soon as I get them.

The alpha male of the Imnaha pack before receiving a collar. Photo from ODFW.

The Imnaha Alpha Male

As for the alpha male of the Imnaha pack, he’s finally been recorded on a trail camera. The image is the first we’ve seen or heard of him since May 31st. ODFW says the photo shows him wearing his tracking collar. So it’s a safe bet that the collar is broken and wasn’t able to transmit information about his location. ODFW also plans to release that photo later today.

Oregon’s Growing Wolf Population

Today’s news means that Oregon’s wolf packs have produced at least six pups this season. That brings the total number of wolves in the state from about 14 to about 20, almost a 50% increase.

There are probably a few lone wolves roaming the state, too. There were some very credible wolf sightings in the Cascades this winter near the Santiam Pass.

It’s been an incredible year for Oregon wolves.

Back in March, ODFW kicked off a six month review of the state’s Wolf Management Plan. It’s been taking comments from the public and interest groups since then. Agency staff will present proposed changes to the Fish and Wildlife Commission when it meets on September 2.

Later in the spring, wolves killed at least six calves near ranches in Wallowa County. That sparked a huge controversy over what to do when wolves kill livestock. To prevent further losses, ODFW eventually hired USDA Wildlife Services to hunt and kill two wolves in the Imnaha pack. ODFW kept extending the hunt, long after the attacks stopped. So four of the state’s environmental groups went to court and Wildlife Services agreed to stop the hunt.

Early this month, Oregon wolves were put back on the federal endangered species list. A federal judge in Montana ruled that the Obama Administration was wrong to delist wolves in Eastern Oregon, Eastern Washington, Montana and Idaho – but to keep them listed in Wyoming.

Related Stories:

What Oregonians Really Think About Their Wolves

Catch And Release. ODFW Captures Another Wolf In Northeast Oregon.

Oregon Wolves Back On The Federal Endangered Species List

PHOTOS: Four New Wolf Pups Born In Oregon

ODFW says it received more than 22,000 letters and emails from the public and stakeholder groups such as the Oregon Cattleman’s Association, Oregon Wild, and the Hells Canyon Preservation Council.

After sorting through the pile, what’s left is a description of what we think is working – and not working – as the State searches for ways for manage its small, but growing population of wolves.

Here are some of the issues outlined in a new report summarizing what Oregonians had to say.

What’s “Chronic Depredation”?

One of the goals of the Wolf plan is to protect ranches from “chronic depredation”. In other words, we’re not going to kill wolves just because of some isolated attacks on livestock. Currently, the attacks have to take place in nearby areas, or on the same property. This summer, ODFW loosened the rules so that attacks happening further apart could be considered part of the same “chronic depredation”.

Why the change? Wolf packs can travel far between kills. The Imnaha pack in Wallowa County roamed an area of 327 square miles while it carried out six fatal livestock attacks this spring. Had the loosened rules been in place beforehand, ODFW says it would have been able to act sooner. Instead, the agency wasn’t able to issue “shoot-to-kill” permits to ranchers and federal agents until after the fifth kill.

By reading the report, it seems to me ODFW wants to keep the loosened rules in place. Environmental groups agree more flexibility is needed, but believe that ODFW’s new language is too vague, and that the agency should have waited until the review process was completed.

Moving Wolves Away From Trouble

When a wolf gets too close to ranches and homes, ODFW has the option of capturing it and moving it out of the area. The idea is to prevent attacks on livestock before they happen. Currently, the agency can only move the wolf to the nearest wildlife area. But chances are that’s where the wolf came from in the first place. It’s almost like not relocating the animal at all.

ODFW appears interested in changing the rule from “nearest wildlife area” to “suitable habitat” – a difference that makes it a lot easier to find new homes for wolves. Environmental groups generally support the change. But agricultural groups do not. They’re worried it will speed up the spread of wolves through Oregon. In fact, some have argued for dropping this option entirely.

When Are Wolves Delisted?

Oregon wolves may be delisted under state law after four breeding pairs are established in Eastern Oregon. Even then, there’s no guarantee that delisting will happen. Instead, the Fish and Wildlife Commission can decide for itself if removing wolves from the state’s endangered species list is a good idea.

Ranchers and farmers say delisting should be automatic and that ODFW should lose the authority to make that decision. Some have argued for a maximum limit on how many wolves should be allowed in the state.

Environmentalists says that four breeding pairs are too few and want to see higher numbers before delisting is considered. If wolf numbers drop below a certain point, some argue that relisting should be done automatically.

It looks like ODFW hopes to avoid addressing this issue in the updated Wolf Plan. These numbers were the result of some difficult and tense negotiations that took place when the original plan was written five years ago. Considering that it’s highly unlikely we’ll have four established breeding pairs in the next five years, the staff appears to be saying, why open up that can of worms now?

Who Decides What’s A Wolf Kill?

As if wolves weren’t controversial enough, the federal government only made things worse when it disagreed with ODFW on how many calves were killed this spring in Wallowa County. USDA Wildlife Services counted nine kills, confirming every attack claimed by ranchers. But ODFW only counted six kills.

The dispute aggravated both sides of the wolf debate. The Cattleman’s Association claimed that wolves were “terrorizing” ranchers and that ODFW wasn’t taking the issue seriously. Environmental groups labeled Wildlife Services a “rogue” agency and questioned if the agent for Wallowa County even had the necessary training to decide if a wolf kill took place.

It’s unlikely that ODFW will want to give up its authority in this area. But the report does suggest the agencies need to do a better job of working with each other.

“Shoot To Kill” Permits

ODFW issues “shoot-to-kill” permits to ranchers after chronic depredation takes place. The permits allow them to shoot wolves caught in the act of attacking livestock.

Ranchers say the the rules are too restrictive. They want to be able to shoot wolves that are simply nearby, and to be able to chase and hunt wolves into other areas.

That’s probably not going to happen. The ODFW report says changing the rules on permits is too big of a change to be included in this five year review. It also raises concerns about making it too easy to shoot wolves, and that it might undo plans to protect the species in Oregon.

What’s Next?

ODFW staff officially releases its proposed changes for the Wolf Plan in a couple of weeks. My hunch is that it won’t call for big changes. The draft update goes before the Commission in September, which votes on a final plan in October.

Related Stories:

Catch And Release. ODFW Captures Another Wolf In Northeast Oregon.

Oregon Wolves Back On The Federal Endangered Species List

Feds Call Off Oregon Wolf Hunt

http://www.naturaloregon.org/2010/07/14/photos-four-new-wolf-pups-born-in-oregon/

Male wolf from Wenaha pack was fitted with a radio collar on Aug. 4, 2010. ODFW photo.

For the first time, wildlife officials have captured one of the wolves in the Wenaha pack in Northeast Oregon.

The two year old male was caught on Wednesday, outfitted with a tracking collar, and released.

It’s a big deal for Oregon Fish and Wildlife. That’s because it will now be a whole lot easier for the agency to monitor the pack and learn more about how well the wolves are doing.

There’s a lot wildlife officials don’t know about this pack. While they’ve counted at least four members, there could be more. The pack could also have produced some pups this spring, but we don’t have any evidence of that. Now that this male is wearing a tracking collar, ODFW hopes to start answering some of those questions.

Russ Morgan, ODFW, and Allison Field, OSU student, evaluating captured wolf. ODFW photo.

“This is an important milestone in monitoring the Wenaha pack,” says Russ Morgan, ODFW Wolf Coordinator. “Now, we will be able to determine specific use areas of this pack, pack numbers and pup production.”

The capture of the wolf was a collaborative effort between ODFW, Umatilla National Forest and the Pacific Northwest Region of the US Forest Service. The 97-pound wolf was in good condition.

Oregon’s other pack, the Imnaha pack in Wallowa County, could have as many as 14 members. The alpha female, an adult, and four pups were caught on camera this summer rollicking through a field. The fate of the alpha male is unknown. His tracking collar went silent May 31.

Related Story:

PHOTOS: Four New Wolf Pups Born In Oregon