Post by: denali on February 01, 2011, 11:07:30 AM
Wolves are now living in northern Umatilla County, a state wildlife official confirmed today.
Mark Kirsch is the Umatilla District wildlife biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. He said more than one Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf has settled in the Walla Walla River/Mill Creek system.
"When we say more than one wolf, I think we're pretty confident we have no less than three," Kirsch said.
But it's too early to say just what kind of "social formation" these wolves are in, he said,
"We know so little at this point," Kirsch said. "The source of our current efforts is to try and understand that."
Andrew Picken of Pendleton reported seeing a trio of wolves south of Milton-Freewater on Jan. 2. He even shot some video and took photos, but the animals were too far away to positively identify them as wolves.
Kirsch said tracks in the snow revealed the wolves are here. He explained wolves will travel behind one another, stepping into each other's paw prints. It took a while following the tracks before seeing divergent paths.
Roblyn Brown, ODFW's assistant wolf coordinator, said the agency is keen to receive information about wolf sightings. She encouraged anyone who spots a wolf or wolf sign to call the ODFW office in La Grande at 541-963-2138, or go to the agency's wolf web page (www.dfw.state.or.us/wolves/ (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wolves/)) and click on the link to report wolf sightings. Visitors also can sign up for ODFW updates about wolves.
Single wolves have come into Umatilla County in the past, but Kirsch said single wolves tend to move a lot and don't stay in one place for long.
And while wolves now are living in the northern part of Umatilla County, Kirsch said, when summer arrives, their range could increase into Washington state. If they stay put, that is.
Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves have federal and state endangered species protection. There have been no efforts to reintroduce wolves in Oregon after people killed the animal off about 80 years ago. The wolves has been moving into Oregon from Idaho naturally. As they do, Kirsch said, they will spread to new places.
"This could have happened anywhere in northern Oregon," Kirsch said. "It just happened to happen here."
a tool to find your legislator if unsure - http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx) - ask them to support HB 1108
Post by: Woodchuck on February 01, 2011, 11:17:29 AM
Post by: jackelope on February 01, 2011, 11:35:32 AM
:tup:
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on February 01, 2011, 11:36:35 AM
Post by: JimmyHoffa on February 01, 2011, 12:05:08 PM
1 step closer to delisting.Agree. Eagles were delisted too, in 2007. Then to keep them protected, they got their own special little law, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Hopefully when the wolves get delisted, they will be a managed game animal and not get their own little law.
:tup:
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on February 01, 2011, 02:26:56 PM
Post by: bigtex on February 01, 2011, 07:39:33 PM
1 step closer to delisting.Agree. Eagles were delisted too, in 2007. Then to keep them protected, they got their own special little law, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Hopefully when the wolves get delisted, they will be a managed game animal and not get their own little law.
:tup:
Actually the Bald & Golden Eagle Protection Act was enacted in 1940, long before the establishment of the ESA.
Post by: bearpaw on February 02, 2011, 05:44:33 PM
Post by: mulehunter on February 02, 2011, 06:44:16 PM
Well they picked a good location, there are some nice 350+ class elk for the wolves to raise pups on... and lots of good wolf habitat on the WA side too. :bash:
Sad deal.
Mulehunter. :bash:
Post by: millertime89 on February 03, 2011, 06:02:10 PM
Post by: denali on February 18, 2011, 03:33:20 PM
Wolves kill two cows with calves near Joseph Oregon. >:( >:( >:( >:(
Post by: boneaddict on February 18, 2011, 03:38:00 PM
Post by: denali on February 18, 2011, 05:12:03 PM