Posts Tagged ‘ u.s. fish and wildlife ’

Just In: Possible New Wolf Attack In Baker County

April 17, 2009
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11:05am

Here’s a little bit of new information from U.S. Fish and Wildlife.  The new attack took place about a mile away from the sheep ranch.  They believe the calf was out in the pasture, not penned in and close to buildings like the sheep that were killed.  It’s unclear how many predators were involved, but the tracks found at the site were “consistent” with the tracks found at the sheep ranch.

10:52am

We just got off the phone with Michelle Dennehy of ODFW about a new possible wolf attack in Baker County.

Here’s what we know so far. The attack took place not far from the ranch where 23 sheep and lambs were killed by wolves in the past week.

It appears just one animal was attacked, a calf, which so far has survived.

Wildlife officials spotted tracks which appear to be about the same size of tracks found at the earlier attacks. They are trying to capture the animal.

The information is subject to the usual rules of breaking news, meaning we don’t have much to work with right now and it’s quite possible that as more comes in, the details will change.

Recent stories:

Video Released From Wolf Kill, As Ranchers Get Angry

Wolf Kill Update: Traps To Capture Wolves Are Empty

Wolf Kill Update: Traps To Capture Wolves Are Empty

April 16, 2009
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The first attempt to capture the wolves that killed about two dozen lambs at a ranch in Baker County came up empty.

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

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

Wildlife officials placed traps for the wolves yesterday, but caught nothing overnight. Phil Carroll with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Portland says they’ll move the traps to a different location and hope for better luck.

Fish and Wildlife will release the wolves after they’re caught. Carroll says capturing them allows the service to put radio collars on the wolves and collect blood samples. When they’re back in the wild, the collars help officials do a better job of tracking the wolves.

The collars also set off devices called RAG (Radio Automated Guard) boxes.  So if wolves with collars return to the ranch they will trigger an alarm.

Carroll adds electrified fladry fencing will be installed today. Fladry is a long line with flags hanging from it. While it doesn’t physically keep wolves away from livestock, it does create a psychological barrier that most wolves won’t cross.

The fladry was provided by Defenders of Wildlife which is offering to pay the rancher for the loss of his lambs.  The group’s Suzanne Stone says they haven’t heard from him yet.  But he’s told the Baker City Herald he plans to seek compensation of about $7000.

Feds Confirm Wolf Kill, Trying To Capture and Collar Them

April 15, 2009
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And now the news we’ve been expecting all day.

Just moments ago, U.S. Fish and Wildlife in Portland issued a press release confirming that a wolf, or wolves, are responsible for the killing of 19 lambs at a ranch in Baker County. The next step is to capture the wolves, outfit them with radio collars, take blood samples, then return them to the wild.

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

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

The radio collars will make it easier for wildlife officials to track the wolves after release, to determine if more wolves were involved, and if a pack has formed in the area.

Fish and Wildlife says it’s working with the rancher and ODFW to prevent further losses. Gary Miller from the La Grande office says the rancher has taken some good steps and that Defenders of Wildlife is providing him with anti-wolf protection called fladry, which is electric fencing with flagging.

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Photo Released Of Wolves In Baker City Ranch Kill

April 15, 2009
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Here’s our first look at the wolves believed to be involved in the killing of 19 lambs at a ranch near Baker City. The photo is part of the evidence wildlife officials used to confirm that wolves were responsible for the depredation. It was taken during the early morning hours on Monday.

A trail camera set up by USFWS and ODFW captured this photo of wolves at the site of a depredation of sheep in Baker County.

A trail camera set up by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oregon Department Of Fish and Wildlife, captured this photo of wolves at the sheep ranch in Baker County.