Wolves are showing up in Oregon

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These wolf tracks were spotted and measured in North Baker County in the fall of 2007.
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Yes, they are here.”

That was Russ Morgan’s direct answer when asked a couple of weeks ago if wolves were in Oregon. Morgan of LaGrande is the wolf coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

He was in the field last week with other officials studying evidence of a wolf kill. It was confirmed that wolf (or wolves) were involved in the depredation of 19 lambs at a Baker County ranch. Evidence included photographs, tracks and bite marks. Cameras placed at the scene captured the image of two wolves. Several wolf experts looked at the photos and confirmed they are wolves.

Rumors and reports have flown around the state in recent years regarding sightings of wolves in the state. Reactions vary about the possibility and inevitability of wolves migrating from Idaho and taking up residence in Oregon. Whether the reaction is enthusiasm or alarm depends on who is contemplating the prospect — livestock ranchers, big game hunters or environmentalists.

Morgan said there has been confirmation of several individual wolves in eastern Oregon dating back to 1999. One wolf was hit and killed on a highway in 2000, and another wolf was killed in 2007 and is being investigated as an illegal shooting.

But only in the last year have pairs of wolves been confirmed. Two pairs are being tracked in Wallowa County in the state’s northeastern corner. One pair is known to have had pups because their tracks were found, but their status is now unknown because no tracks have been found since. Morgan explained that first-time wolf parents are not always successful in raising pups.

More: http://www.nrtoday.com/article/20090421/NEWS/904219919/1063/NEWS&ParentProfile=1055