Posts Tagged ‘ oregon cattlemen’s association ’

As Wolves Move West, Oregon’s Wolf Plan Comes Up For Review

March 11, 2010
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B-300, the alpha female of the Imnaha wolf pack. Taken in July of 2009 when ODFW replaced her radio collar. Photo from ODFW.

Starting Friday, Oregon Fish and Wildlife begins work on what’s expected to be a six-month review of the state’s Wolf Management Plan.

There aren’t very many environmental issues in the state that are as controversial as this one.

In some ways, the plan is succeeding. There are increasing credible reports of gray wolves in Central Oregon. ODFW has also confirmed two packs in Wallowa County, including a pack with ten members in the Imnaha wildlife area.

But last spring’s attacks on sheep ranches near Baker City left many ranchers saying, “We told you so.”  Wildlife officials captured and killed the two wolves responsible for the attacks. But the state’s Cattlemen’s Association insists ranchers need the authority to protect their herds.

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Wolf Politics In Oregon

April 23, 2009
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Any hope Oregon ranchers had for legislation that would let them to shoot wolves is probably dead for this session.

House Bill 3383 would have allowed ranchers and farmers to shoot wolves caught in the act of attacking their livestock. But it missed an important April 17 deadline to be put on the schedule for a hearing. The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association says it was told by House Ag Chairman Brian Clem that his schedule was too busy to include the wolf bill.

The Baker City Herald meanwhile, says bill sponsor Rep. Cliff Bentz is hoping the issue will come up again during a possible February special session.

The bill would have also allowed ranchers and farmers to track and hunt wolves that had attacked their livestock, but only after getting a permit from Oregon Fish and Wildlife.

Surveillance Photo Courtesy US Fish and Wildlife and Oregon Fish and Wildlife.

Surveillance photo taken April 13. Courtesy US Fish and Wildlife and Oregon Fish and Wildlife.

Meanwhile, the search for wolves that attacked two ranches in Baker County has come up empty. Michelle Dennehy with ODFW says there’s been no signs of the wolves since a calf was killed about a week ago. She says it’s quite possible they’ve moved out of the area. During the first two attacks at another ranch, 24 lambs and ewes were killed. Both locations are in the Keating Valley and only a few miles apart.

Follow Up On Today’s New Possible Wolf Attack

April 17, 2009
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Here’s the latest we have on what appears to be a new wolf attack.

When we last checked with wildlife officials, they still hadn’t found the wolf, or wolves, they think attacked a calf in Baker County overnight. The weather in the area was good today and officials searched for the predators by air, but saw nothing. At last word, the calf survived the attack.

While it’s not 100% certain wolves are responsible for this new incident, they say tracks found at the site are very similar to tracks found at the ranch where the two first two attacks took place.

Surveillance Photo Courtesy US Fish and Wildlife and Oregon Fish and Wildlife.

Surveillance Photo Courtesy US Fish and Wildlife and Oregon Fish and Wildlife.

If this is confirmed as a wolf attack, it would be the third one in a week. The first two took place April 10 and 13 at a sheep ranch in Baker County. The two locations are only a few miles apart. Wolves were exterminated from Oregon in the 1940′s and didn’t return until 1999.

Today’s Baker City Herald reports that another sheep has died from the ranch kills. Rancher Curt Jacobs is quoted as saying he’s now lost 24 lambs and ewes.

The paper says members of the Farm Bureau and the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association have offered to pay Jacob’s expenses so he can tell his story of the kills to lawmakers. Farmers and ranchers are hoping the series of attacks will persuade the legislature to pass House Bill 3383 which allows them to shoot wolves in the act of attacking livestock.

Recent news:

Video Released From Wolf Kill, As Ranchers Get Angry