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Dead calf deemed 'probable' wolf kill Written by Katy Nesbitt September 15, 2012 04:15 pmA dead calf found Sept. 11 in Wallowa County’s Rail Canyon was determined a “probable” wolf kill yesterday afternoon. Rancher Todd Nash was riding horseback through a pasture at noon Tuesday when he found a calf that appeared to be mostly consumed. Nash estimates 300 pounds of the 400 pound calf had been eaten. Veterinarian Dave Schaffer estimated that the calf had been killed within 24 hours of its discovery. Nash said his dogs discovered the rumen pile, contents of the calf’s stomach, and the calf was found several yards down the hill. The cattle had been checked four days earlier and are in the area of the Imnaha Pack home range. Until this summer, more than 40 livestock producers received daily text messages with information from the Imnaha Pack alpha male’s collar. Since mid-summer, text messages no longer give specific location of the wolf, but a “polygon” or area within the pack’s range. Commissioner Susan Roberts had polygon maps printed and distributed to producers. Nash said he was not checking his cattle because of a text message, but was on a regular ride through the pasture that has about 60 cows and calves. An Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist found a fresh set of tracks from a single wolf, 4” long x 3.5” wide, about 200 meters away from the carcass. No tracks or sign of wolves was found at the scene of the dead calf, though such sign may have been obscured by the large number of cattle using the area around a water trough. A USDA Wildlife Service’s report said both rear legs had large canine bites at the hocks and ankle with hemorrhaging under the skin, “typical of a wolf”. Two pieces of hide were removed for testing at the University of Idaho to try and determine if there was DNA evidence of wolf predation. The state report said most of the muscle tissue had been consumed, though some muscle remained above the pelvis, the head and upper neck, and most of the muscle between the ribs. The skeleton was intact and articulated, with the exception of the right front shoulder, which was missing entirely. No GPS collared Imnaha Pack wolf locations or any other telemetry locations have occurred recently in the area of this calf. Most recently, a Grouse Creek Ranch cow and calf pair were found with wounds 10 miles from the calf carcass. The state determined the calf had been injured by wolves while the cow was determined a “probable”. The estimated value of the calf is $785. Nash is entitled to half of that value as it was determined a “probable” wolf kill by the state agency. The county’s compensation program will pay for Nash’s calf from state and federal funding. A separate, private fund will pay for the DNA testing at University of Idaho. Nash has had several depredation investigations over the past two and a half years; many of those were confirmed. His rangeland has been occupied by the Imnaha Pack. “Everyone thinks OR-4 (collared alpha male) is the bad boy of the pack and this is his territory. There are other wolves here and other ‘bad boys’ like they are on the Zumwalt running through Casey Tippetts’ place.”
Rail Canyon Sept. 14 depredation investigations Written by Katy Nesbitt September 16, 2012 11:40 amTwo dead calves were found on rangeland southeast of Joseph Friday afternoon. A report of the findings is expected by Monday afternoon. Friday, a dead calf was found in Rail Canyon not far from where one was declared a probable wolf kill on Sept. 11. Another calf was found dead on the Johnson ranch a few miles away. No recent global positioning system collar information from the Imnaha pack's alpha male, OR-7, coincides with these kills. A USDA Wildlife Service's report confirmed both calves were killed by wolves. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will conclude its report by tomorrow.
