Sherriff and ODFW disagree on wolf kills

[Humptulips]

http://malheurenterprise.com/sheriffs-office-confirms-wolf-kills/

[Axle]

His findings contradict those of agents from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency attributed the deaths of six cattle to “other” causes but specifically ruled out wolves. As a result, Butler isn’t eligible for compensation from a special state fund set up for ranchers.
“The fact the two reports come to different conclusions is frustrating,” said Sheriff Brian Wolfe. “The sheriff’s office has staff that are educated in this area and continue to receive ongoing training.”

Funny how that works.
Let me guess - the folks in the sheriff's office are hunters but the folks in the wildlife department are not.

[Bushcraft]

Sniff, sniff...smells like rotten wolf kill to me.

Other causes? That interesting...I wonder how many other cases of both domestic and wild ungulates are mislabeled as dying from "other causes" and not "predators killed them" or "predators were trying to kill them and they died of exhaustion", or "predators were trying to kill them and they got tangled up in barbed wire fencing", etc.

I mean, if you were an unscrupulous wolf-hugging Department employee and wanted to gerrymander some statistics, then this seems like a perfectly valid way to hide the predator problem and forestall the inevitable solution.

Also...explain to me why in the hell are we paying Federal authorities to show up and NOT write a report?

I'm siding with the Malheur Sheriff's Dept.

 

[Axle]

Also...explain to me why in the hell are we paying Federal authorities to show up and NOT write a report?

Because they are simply in it for a paycheck and a fat retirement plan.

[wolfbait]

Welcome to the fraud and corruption of the wolf introduction which seems to travel with the wolves from state to state.


Sounds like ODFG are being coached by WDF&Wolves, I was called to help secure a calf kill a few years ago on a near ranch. We found a cow that was very protective and a dead calf, we back trailed to where the calf was first attack and found a big pile of wolf scat. We both figured this for sure would be a confirmed wolf kill. But the famed fitkin showed up and after a few hours he said he had found a coyote track. So it was labeled as a coyote kill.

Sounds like those ranchers in Oregon need to take care of their predation problems without contacting state or federal agencies, just like many of the WA ranchers have learned, it's either that or continue to feed USFWS wolves.

[pianoman9701]

His findings contradict those of agents from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency attributed the deaths of six cattle to “other” causes but specifically ruled out wolves. As a result, Butler isn’t eligible for compensation from a special state fund set up for ranchers.
“The fact the two reports come to different conclusions is frustrating,” said Sheriff Brian Wolfe. “The sheriff’s office has staff that are educated in this area and continue to receive ongoing training.”

Funny how that works.
Let me guess - the folks in the sheriff's office are hunters but the folks in the wildlife department are not.

The Sheriff's department are locals and give a darn about their community and residents. That's why sheriffs are elected and the highest LE authority in their jurisdiction.

[wolfbait]

His findings contradict those of agents from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency attributed the deaths of six cattle to “other” causes but specifically ruled out wolves. As a result, Butler isn’t eligible for compensation from a special state fund set up for ranchers.
“The fact the two reports come to different conclusions is frustrating,” said Sheriff Brian Wolfe. “The sheriff’s office has staff that are educated in this area and continue to receive ongoing training.”

Funny how that works.
Let me guess - the folks in the sheriff's office are hunters but the folks in the wildlife department are not.

The Sheriff's department are locals and give a darn about their community and residents. That's why sheriffs are elected and the highest LE authority in their jurisdiction.

 

[Special T]

After what happened in that county you think the sherif is going  do anything other than side with a local?  Could be Dangerious country for Feds and state folks... not exactly any love or trust.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[pianoman9701]

After what happened in that county you think the sherif is going  do anything other than side with a local?  Could be Dangerious country for Feds and state folks... not exactly any love or trust.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

The sheriff can also un-deputize the state and federal LE operating in that county, effectively barring them from arresting anyone. My understanding is that they (the state and feds), could still investigate but would be required to work with the sheriff to act on warrants. I'm often impressed with the way county sheriffs protect and uphold their constituents' rights. When the last gun control in was passed in WA and OR for the background checks, several said they wouldn't enforce the law.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

It seems a DNA test could clear this up.

[bigtex]

After what happened in that county you think the sherif is going  do anything other than side with a local?  Could be Dangerious country for Feds and state folks... not exactly any love or trust.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

The sheriff can also un-deputize the state and federal LE operating in that county, effectively barring them from arresting anyone. My understanding is that they (the state and feds), could still investigate but would be required to work with the sheriff to act on warrants. I'm often impressed with the way county sheriffs protect and uphold their constituents' rights. When the last gun control in was passed in WA and OR for the background checks, several said they wouldn't enforce the law.

Most feds aren't deputized. Typically the only ones who are are patrol feds (Forest Service, Park Service, Fed Protective Service, etc.). The only thing a county deputization does is allow the feds to make state arrests into state courts. If they don't have that then they can only make federal arrests into federal court.

In Oregon, federal officers are essentially deputized by the state. Any federal officer can fill out a form and can arrest anyone in Oregon committing any state misdemeanor or felony, regardless of what the Sheriff says, that's written into state code. In WA that Officer would need to be deputized.

[pianoman9701]

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't know OR was different. OR sucks!

[olyguy79]

After what happened in that county you think the sherif is going  do anything other than side with a local?  Could be Dangerious country for Feds and state folks... not exactly any love or trust.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

The sheriff can also un-deputize the state and federal LE operating in that county, effectively barring them from arresting anyone. My understanding is that they (the state and feds), could still investigate but would be required to work with the sheriff to act on warrants. I'm often impressed with the way county sheriffs protect and uphold their constituents' rights. When the last gun control in was passed in WA and OR for the background checks, several said they wouldn't enforce the law.

Most feds aren't deputized. Typically the only ones who are are patrol feds (Forest Service, Park Service, Fed Protective Service, etc.). The only thing a county deputization does is allow the feds to make state arrests into state courts. If they don't have that then they can only make federal arrests into federal court.

In Oregon, federal officers are essentially deputized by the state. Any federal officer can fill out a form and can arrest anyone in Oregon committing any state misdemeanor or felony, regardless of what the Sheriff says, that's written into state code. In WA that Officer would need to be deputized.

Your three letter federal agencies (FBI, DEA, ATF) rarely seek county deputization because there's really no point, they're mainly working federal cases. The federal patrol agencies deal with more everyday police work (DUI, minor drug possession, wildlife, etc) and those cases are better handled in state courts, in WA the officer needs to be deputized by the Sheriff/City/State agency to process the case in state court. In Oregon the authority is granted via state law. Realistically, you see city/county officers seeking deputization from the FBI/DEA/ATF for task force work, and you see federal patrol officer seek county deputization for normal patrol work.

[olyguy79]

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't know OR was different. OR sucks!

You'd actually be surprised the level of cooperation between feds and county sheriffs. There's a few "anti-federal sheriffs" in WA who deputize officers from federal agencies. You have to remember these people are politicians, they know what to say in order to get them elected. Plus, a county deputized USFS LEO for example now has more ability to help out deputies then he could if he wasn't deputized.

[bigtex]

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't know OR was different. OR sucks!

Realistically it's more like WA is different than most states. Many states have some type of emergency type situation written into their laws. So if an FBI agent is driving by and someone is getting their head beaten in by a bat they can go over and arrest the suspect and charge them into state court. They couldn't go out pulling over people for expired registration. Some say well what about citizens arrest, most (if not all) agencies prohibit their personnel from exercising citizens arrest because of liability issues.

However, in WA both situations (head beaten in by bat and vehicle stop for expired registration) would require some type of deputization from the PD/Sheriff.