Oregon’s Rogue wolf pack calls the Fort Klamath area home. A quick clarification, this wolf pack is known as the Rogue Pack not that the pack has gone rogue. During the last month, the Rogue pack has had seven livestock killings attributed to them. Most of the wolf population in Oregon has had a limited impact on livestock. However, over the last few years, the Rogue pack seems to have the habit of hunting and killing livestock.
ODFW wolf pack depredation report
During the last month Oregon dept. of Fish and Wildlife has investigated sixteen wildlife-livestock related incidents. One of the killings was attributed to the Chesnimnus Wolf Pack in the Peavine Creek area. Subsequently, five of the deaths were classified as a nonpredator / unknown cause of death. One incident took place in the Rocky Ridge area. During the investigation, ODFW found that two sheep were lost to Black Bear predation. The final report shows that coyotes killed a one-month-old calf in the Alder Creek area.
Rogue Pack livestock killing report
The seven incidents will be listed below:
- On the afternoon of 7/17/2020. The remains of a 725 lb.
yearling steer were found in a private pasture in the Fort Klamath area. The yearling was estimated to have died within 18 hours of the investigation. During the investigation, ODFW officials found fresh wolf tracks and clear signs of a wolf attack. The injuries included hemorrhaging and tissue trauma extending up to 2 inches into the soft tissues of all four legs and rear groining. - On the morning of 7/30/20. A landowner found an injured,
approximately 725 lb. yearling steer in a private pasture in the Fort Klamath area. The steer’s injuries on the flanks and hindquarters were fresh and still bleeding when ODFW arrived. The steer died later that day from its injuries. The steer was difficult to approach due to its injuries. However, the steer’s injuries were observed from a close distance. Fresh wolf tracks were found in the pasture within 6 feet of
the injured yearling. The size, number, and location of the bite injuries are similar to injuries observed on other cattle attacked
by wolves. - In the early morning of 7/31/20, a ranch manager found a dead steer. The carcass was mostly intact when it was found in a private pasture in the Fort Klamath area. After examining the dead steer ODFW officials determined that the steer was killed in a wolf attack.
The livestock attacks continue into August
- On the afternoon of 8/7/20, a landowner found an injured yearling steer. The steer was struggling to walk due to the injuries it sustained. As a result, the steer was out down by the rancher. After the examination, officials found tooth scrapes up to ¼ inch wide and up to 3 inches long around both elbows, the left flank, and the hindquarters above the hock. There was also an open wound approximately 8 x 10 inches at the groin. This attack also took place within the Fort Klamath area.
- On the evening of 8/8/20, a rancher found a dead yearling steer. The majority of the steer had been eaten. It was estimated that the steer was killed thirty-six hours before the investigation. The area showed many signs of wolves and the injuries were consistent with other wolf attacks on livestock.
- On the morning of 8/8/20, a rancher found an injured steer. The rancher attempted to bandage the injuries that day. However, the steer was put down two days later due to its condition deteriorating. The steer had many injuries along its legs and rear end. This attack was also attributed to the Rogue Wolf Pack.
- On the afternoon of 8/16/20, a ranch hand found a dead steer. Very little of the steer was eaten. After the investigation, ODFW officials found that the steer had numerous wounds that were consistent with other known wolf attacks on livestock.
The report is apart of Oregon’s evolving plan to manage wolves within the state. It will be interesting to see how ODFW officials handle wolf-livestock conflict moving forward.
