Court Stops Killing of Sea Lions At Bonneville Dam

November 23, 2010
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Courtesy ODFW

Pull out the traps – a federal appeals court says there won’t be any more killing of sea lions at Bonneville Dam.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a stop to the killing saying that wildlife officials didn’t really explain how killing sea lions is supposed to help salmon and steelhead.

At first look, the answer to that question seems obvious. Bonneville Dam is a big bottleneck for salmon working their way upstream to spawn. It forces them into a small area and makes them easy pickings for California and Steller sea lions.

But the legal standard appears to require a “significant negative impact” and the court says federal and state wildlife officials didn’t prove that’s what was happening.

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The Million Dollar Fish

November 23, 2010
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Bonneville Power Administration is writing some big checks to fishermen this fall. One guy is getting more than $81,000.

Each year, BPA pays a bounty for northern pikeminnow caught in the Columbia River. The fish, according to BPA, eat millions of young salmon and steelhead.

For 2010, BPA will pay a total of $1.2 million for 173,112 pikeminnow.

Continue reading for the full press release.

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Learn More About Oregon’s New Marine Reserves

November 23, 2010
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ODFW has a new web page where you can read up on the three new proposed marine reserves.

Marine reserves are like state parks in the ocean. They are areas set aside for conservation, research and recreation. But activities like fishing and crabbing aren’t allowed.

So far we have two reserves along the coast at Otter Rock and Redfish Rocks. Now state officials are considering three more at Cape Perpetua near Florence, Cascade Head near Lincoln City and Cape Falcon near Manzanita.

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Reward For Oregon Wolf Kill Climbs to $10,000

October 10, 2010
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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.

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Was An Oregon Wolf Shot And Killed?

October 5, 2010
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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.

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Hearing Thursday For Oregon’s New Wolf Plan

September 1, 2010
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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.

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Most Of Mt. Hood Forest Goes Off Limits To Off Roading

August 27, 2010
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A view of Mt. Hood from Timothy Lake. Photo by K. Carpenter/U.S.G.S.

Off roaders are going to start seeing a lot of “closed” signs in the Mt. Hood National Forest.

A new Forest Service plan dramatically cuts back where off road vehicles are allowed. Environmental groups couldn’t be much happier.

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