How Has the Oregon Wolf Become Populated Again

Last updated Apr 2021

This page and pdf has not however been updated to reflect the federally relisted condition of wolves implemented on February. x, 2022.

Click here to read or download an abbreviated, printable version of Frequently Asked Questions almost Wolves (pdf)

How many wolves are currently in Oregon?

Wolf numbers fluctuate throughout the year every bit wolves disperse, pups are born and new packs are formed. The Oregon wolf population is officially documented at the terminate of each year using hard evidence (visual observations, remote camera photographs, and tracks). ODFW provides a minimum known count of wolves present in Oregon at the end of the year. It is a direct count of wolves, non an gauge. It can be hard to document every wolf, specially lone wolves or new pairs, so the bodily number of wolves in Oregon is higher than the minimum count.

The minimum Oregon wolf count for 2020 was 173 wolves. ODFW documented 22 packs (four or more wolves traveling together in winter) with 17 breeding pairs of wolves in 2020.  A breeding pair is an adult male and female wolf with at least two pups, which survive through the end of the year.  Resident wolf activity was identified in 35 separate geographic areas and 12 counties including parts of Baker, Douglas, Grant, Jackson, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Wasco.

For more than information, see the Oregon Wolf Population webpage or visit the Specific Wolves and Wolf Packs page for electric current monitoring information on packs and areas of new resident wolf activity.

What is their current legal status?

Every bit of Jan. 4, 2021, wolves are federally delisted statewide and managed under the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan (Wolf Plan).

As of November. ten, 2015 wolves are no longer listed every bit a land Endangered Species in Oregon. They are still considered a special status game mammal and protected by statute throughout the state.

There are two wolf direction zones with the boundary being Highways 97/20/395.  Wolves in Oregon are managed in phases determined by the number of wolves, their reproductive success, and their distribution in these zones. The Wolf Program phases are more protective while the wolf population is low and less restrictive every bit the population increases.

Wolves in eastern Oregon are currently managed under Stage Three of the land's Wolf Plan. Wolves in western Oregon are managed under Phase I rules, which provide ESA-like protections, until this surface area of the state has four breeding pairs of wolves for three consecutive years.

Under the Oregon Wolf Plan, in all phases of wolf management, non-lethal deterrent measures to preclude wolf-livestock conflict remain the kickoff choice of Oregon wild animals managers. These non-lethal preventative measures are required in all phases of wolf direction earlier ODFW will consider lethal control of wolves due to chronic livestock depredation.

At that place is no general season sport hunting of wolves immune in any stage of the Wolf Plan. In Phase Three where wolves are delisted,controlled have of wolves past special permit in certain areas could be allowed with Commission approval in situations of chronic livestock depredation or wolf-related declines of prey populations.

Wolves return to Oregon

Were wolves reintroduced into Oregon?

No. The wolves currently in Oregon migrated naturally (walked) into the state or were built-in hither. Wolves were captured in Canada and released in key Idaho and Yellowstone National Park in the mid-1990s only they were not released in Oregon. State wildlife managers accept not captured wolves elsewhere and released them in Oregon, and in that location are no plans to do then.  While allowed under certain circumstances in the Wolf Plan, to appointment wolves take also never been moved from one part of Oregon to another.

Why does Oregon accept wolves?

Wolves are native to Oregon. They were listed equally endangered past the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1974. When the Oregon Legislature enacted the state'southward ain ESA in 1987, information technology grandfathered in all species native to Oregon that were so listed nether the federal ESA, including wolves. This law requires the Fish and Wildlife Commission (and ODFW) to conserve wolves in Oregon.

As well, Oregon'south Wildlife Policy directs the Committee to manage wildlife "… to forbid serious depletion of whatsoever indigenous species and to provide the optimum recreational and aesthetic benefits for present and future generations of the citizens of the country." This includes a species as controversial as the wolf.

Are the wolves in Oregon a dissimilar subspecies than the wolves originally here?

The wolves in Oregon today are part of the Northern Rocky Mountain wolf population. They are descendants of wolves that naturally recolonized northwest Montana starting in the early 1980s and wolves captured in Canada and released in Yellowstone National Park and Idaho in the mid-1990s. Historical evidence and wolf specimens bear witness wolves from the Canadian and northern U.S. Rockies, interior British Columbia, Northwest Territories, and nearly all of Alaska are closely related. According to taxonomists, they belong to a unmarried subspecies known asCanis lupus occidentalis and form a single population beyond the Rocky Mountains of the northern U.S. and southern Canada.

Wolves originating from the region described above have proven to be genetically and morphologically similar. For case, of the wolves harvested during the 2009 hunting seasons, adults from Montana weighed an average of 97 lbs with a maximum of 117 lbs, and adults from Idaho weighed an average of 101 lbs with a maximum of about 130 lbs. These weights are like to the sizes of wolves that occurred in these states in the 1800s and early 1900s. The weights of wolves that take returned to Oregon or been born here in the concluding few years are similar.  Adults take weighed an average of 89 lbs, with the highest weight recorded virtually 115 lbs.

Wolves are well-known for their ability to disperse long distances from their birth sites. Radio-collar data shows that wolves from southeastern British Columbia and southwestern Alberta mix both with wolves from Idaho and Montana, and with wolves from farther n nigh the source locations of the animals used for the Idaho and Yellowstone reintroductions.

Wolf Conservation and Management Plan

When and how was the Wolf Conservation and Direction Plan created?

The plan was starting time adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission in 2005 subsequently one of the largest public processes ever for an Oregon fish and wild animals consequence. An informational group of xiv members representing various stakeholders crafted the original plan. Thousands of people provided their input during the initial planning process.

How often is the Wolf Plan reviewed?

The programme is unremarkably reviewed every five years. It was reviewed and updated in October 2010 with small changes to make managing wolf-livestock conflicts more applied. It was changed again in July 2013 due to a lawsuit settlement agreement. The most recent update was adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission in June 2019.

Wolf management

What is the population goal after wolves are off the state Endangered Species List?

The electric current Wolf Plan does not set a maximum population cap for wolves. The Stage III minimum population objective for wolves in Oregon is seven breeding pairs on each side of the east-west boundary (Hwys 97/20/395). Once wolves achieve that threshold, they would be managed so they practise not decline below that number or climb to numbers that cause unacceptable levels of disharmonize with other land uses.

How much does it cost to manage wolves in Oregon and how is it paid for?

The majority of wolf program funding for the 2019-2021 biennium consists of federal funds from the Pittman-Robertson Grant Plan and land funds from Oregon'south General Fund.

The federal grant budget allocation for the 2019-2021 biennium is $690,502. This grant requires 25% state lucifer that comes from a combination of Oregon Department of Fish and Wild fauna license dollars (ix%) and Lottery Funds (16%). Two full time employees and i summer educatee intern are associated with the program.

Starting in 2019, the Oregon Legislature and Governor approved the hiring of three boosted full time wolf biologists. For the biennium, they allocated $702,842 of General Fund to pay for the new positions and their supplies. Oregon Full general Fund dollars come up from income taxes paid by individuals and businesses.

Who at ODFW works on wolves?

ODFW currently has five full time wolf biologists. Two biologists coordinate statewide wolf program activities out of the Eastward Region (La Grande) role in northeast Oregon. 3 wolf biologists piece of work regionally out of the Enterprise, Prineville and Central Point field offices. District biologists at ODFW'south field offices also deport wolf direction activities when there are wolves in their area.

Livestock depredation

Are ranchers compensated for livestock losses?

The Oregon Country Legislature passed HB 3560 during the 2011 session. The bill directed the Oregon Department of Agriculture to establish a wolf depredation compensation and financial aid program and appropriated $100,000 from the state General Fund to implement the programme. For more than information about the plan, contact the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Before 2011, the organization Defenders of Wildlife funded a bounty programme in Oregon and other Rocky Mountain states for many years.

How does ODFW determine if a loss is caused by wolves and not by some other cause?

Domestic animals can die for a variety of reasons, including predation (wolf, cougar, coyote, acquit, dog, etc.), weather condition, disease and injury. ODFW carefully investigates all reported livestock losses to wolves to determine the cause of death and the advisable response.

Start, ODFW closely examines evidence (the domestic animal's carcass, signs of struggle, tracks or scat) to determine if the domestic creature was actually killed or injured by a predator—and not only scavenged by one later dying from another crusade.

If the death or injury is determined to be from predation, farther test of the carcass and other testify is needed to determine if wolves (rather than cougars, bears, coyotes, etc.) were responsible. Radio-neckband information, whatever eyewitness accounts and wolf sign such as tracks or scat can also help indicate if wolves were in the area at the fourth dimension.

More than on livestock loss investigations

How many livestock have been lost to wolves in Oregon?

As of December 31, 2020, 242 livestock or domestic animals are confirmed to take been killed past wolves in Oregon since wolves began returning to the state in the late 1990s. Other livestock animals accept been confirmed injured by wolves. Encounter the livestock loss investigations page for reports of investigations and the annual reports for an annual count of investigations and confirmed deaths/injuries.

How many wolves have been killed because of livestock attacks?

16 Oregon wolves have been killed past ODFW or authorized agents in response to chronic depredations of livestock between September 2009 and December 2020. In all situations, livestock producers and wild fauna managers first tried a diversity of not-lethal measures to avoid and/or reduce wolf-livestock disharmonize. More data well-nigh wolves that were removed is available on Wolf Programme Updates page.

What kind of preventative measures are used to prevent livestock depredation?

Typical methods include:

• Removing bone piles and carcasses that attract wolves to an area near livestock.
• Fencing, either temporary (fladry - flagged fencing, sometimes electrified) or permanent effectually small-scale and medium pastures.
• Foxlights® and other noise and light scare devices.
• RAG (radio-activated baby-sit) boxes that emit noise and calorie-free when a collared wolf approaches.
• Livestock protection dogs to protect livestock and alert people so they can respond.
• Monitoring of wolf locations, wolf sign and sharing that data with area producers so they can employ it in management decisions.
• Range rider (an employee hired to monitor and brume wolves away from livestock where necessary).
• Livestock producers hazing wolves away from livestock.
• Using depression-stress livestock treatment to encourage the mother-calf bond and herding instinct of cattle (increases ability of cattle to defend themselves from wolves).
• Changes in husbandry practices such equally grazing cattle at different times and in different pastures.

These preventive methods don't piece of work in all places at all times. For example, fladry is not an effective tool when livestock are grazing over a broad surface area. Wolves can also grow accustomed to fladry and RAG boxes, and so these tools are not constructive long-term. Selecting the proper tools and fugitive overexposure of wolves to the same deterrents is critical for long-term success. ODFW works with landowners to determine which preventive tool(s) are appropriate. More on depredation deterrents.

Are ranchers required to implement deterrents confronting wolf attacks?

No. However, before ODFW tin can qualify the killing of wolves due to livestock losses, efforts to forbid or solve the situation using not-lethal methods which are appropriate for the situation must be tried and documented.

What tin ranchers do to respond to wolf conflict with livestock?

Ranchers throughout the state may try to scare the wolf off (by making loud noises for example) without harming or injuring the wolf in whatever mode. (pursuit is not allowed).

Livestock producers should consult the West Wolf Management Zone and East Wolf Direction Zone pages to sympathize their options, which include the ability to shoot a wolf caught in the act of biting, wounding, killing or chasing livestock in certain circumstances.

Wolves and man safety

Are wolves a threat to people?

Similar other large carnivores (bears, cougars) wolves will tend to avoid people. Dangerous wolf-human interactions are extremely rare. They are more likely to occur when wolves are habituated to people, when dogs are involved, or if wolves are sick (e.k. rabies). Immediately report any incident with a wolf to police or ODFW at a local part. More than information for if you encounter a wolf.

How can I protect my dogs against wolves?

Wolves are by nature territorial and baby-sit their territory from other canids, including coyotes and domestic dogs. Hunters who apply dogs or anyone walking a dog in wolf country should take steps to limit potential conflicts between their dog(southward) and a wild wolf. Print handout of data (pdf)

• Keep dogs within view.
• Place a bell or a beeping collar on wider ranging dogs.
• Talk loudly to the dog or other people with you, or utilise whistles.
• Command the dog so that it stays close to you and wolves associate it with a human being.
• Place the canis familiaris on a leash if wolves or fresh sign are seen.
• Remember, it is Not legal to shoot at or endeavour to injure or impale a wolf even if it is attacking your dog, except under certain circumstances with livestock working dogs. See the West Wolf Direction Zone and Due east Wolf Management Zone pages for more than data.

Wolf hybrids / wolves as pets

Information technology is non legal to breed or sell wolves in Oregon. When people annunciate "wolves" for auction they are usually really dog/wolf hybrids or wolf-type dog breeds. The possession of wolves or hybrids every bit pets is discouraged considering of the potential threat to man safety. "Hybrids and tame wolves accept little fear of humans, are less predictable and manageable than dogs, and are considerably more than dangerous to people" (Fritts et al. 2003).

Wolf hybrids are regulated as domestic dogs in Oregon. ODFW has no jurisdiction over wolf hybrids. Authorisation to regulate the breeding, raising and property of wolf hybrids lies with individual Oregon counties. Some Oregon counties have adopted ordinances that regulate the possession of wolves and wolf hybrids.

Pure-bred wolves held in captivity are regulated by ODFW. They are but permitted in Oregon if held in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facility, unless specifically approved by ODFW.

Wolves are capable of hybridizing with other canid species including wolf hybrids. While the potential does exist for the genetic pollution of wild wolf populations, the risk is low because hybrid wolves released into the wild have a low survival rate.

What are the penalties for shooting a wolf?

Except in defence of man life, or in sure circumstances when a wolf is attacking livestock, it is unlawful to shoot a wolf. Doing so is a violation of Oregon country game law, with fines and penalties assessed by a court. The violation would be a Course A misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of a $vi,250 fine and confinement to the county jail for one year. The Fish and Wildlife Commission requested that this punishment exist increased when it delisted wolves from the state ESA on Nov. nine, 2015. In improver to the criminal fine, Oregon Court may now impose a fine of $7,500 in civil restitution following the passage of House Bill 4046 by the 2016 Oregon State Legislature.

Coyote hunters demand to exist aware that wolves can easily be mistaken for coyotes, (especially juvenile wolves in the autumn) and should e'er advisedly identify their target before shooting. ODFW created a Wolf/Coyote Identification Quiz to let hunters and recreationist to test and increment their knowledge most wolf and coyote identification. Print handout of data (pdf)

Have wolves attacked people since returning to Oregon?

No, nor has there been an assault in surrounding states (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho) since wolves dispersed into Montana and were reintroduced into Idaho and Yellowstone National Park. Wolves have attacked people in Canada and Alaska merely this is very rare. In the last 100 years, ii people take been known to be killed by wolves in that location.

What should I practice if I see a wolf in the wild?

First make sure the wolf knows that you are there and that you lot are human.  The wolf may non take smelled or seen you if the air current is carrying your scent away from the wolf or if you lot have been sitting or continuing motionless.  Merely moving, raising your arms, and talking volition alert the wolf and usually cause information technology to movement away rapidly (see video).  In the unlikely event that a wolf threatens you lot, hither is what to do:

• Stay calm.
• Raise your vocalisation and speak firmly.
• Back away slowly while facing the brute. Do not turn and run.
• Leave the wolf a way to escape.
• Pick upwards small children without angle down.
• Utilise air horns or other noisemakers.
• Use bear spray or firearms if necessary (burn down a shot into the basis safely).
• In the unlikely event that yous are attacked past a wolf, fight back. Endeavor to remain standing and use rocks, sticks, tools, camping gear and your hands to fend off the attack.

What is Echinococcus (and do wolves have it)?

Echinococcus granulosis is a blazon of tapeworm common to domestic dogs, coyotes, foxes, and wolves. It is endemic and is a natural part of the wolf's environmental. Ungulates (east.g., deer, domestic cattle, domestic sheep, elk, and moose) are intermediate hosts for larval tapeworms, which form hydatid cysts in their body cavity. Canids (i.e., dog species) are definitive hosts where larval tapeworms mature and alive in the small intestine.

The tapeworm has a worldwide distribution with two recognized "biotypes". The 'northern' biotype that circulates between both wild and domestic canids and wild ungulates is primarily plant in northern latitudes above the 45th parallel. The 'southern' biotype circulates betwixt dogs and domestic ungulates, particularly sheep. It is endemic and common in most sheep-raising areas of the world.Echinococcus has been identified in some Oregon wolves. This is not unexpected since the parasite is a role of the ecology of the wolf.  Hydatid cysts were documented in a deer carcass from Grant County, Oregon in 1977, before wolves recolonized Oregon, so the parasite may accept been maintained in the coyote and fox populations.

Humans are not a natural host of the parasite. Where the parasite is found in wolves and wild ungulates, nigh wildlife direction and public health agencies consider the public wellness significance and risk to exist low. Withal, care should be taken (wear gloves) when handling dog or wolf feces.

Rocky Mountain Cow Elk and Calf - Photo by Nick Myatt-

Wolves and large game

What kind of touch on volition wolves have on big game?

The experience of states with more than established wolf populations like Montana suggests the touch on will vary co-ordinate to many factors (e.g., habitat, weather patterns, hunting, livestock grazing patterns, other predators). In Montana, some elk populations have declined, while in other places with wolves, elk populations are stable or increasing.

ODFW biologists predict that elk volition be the preferred prey in the Wallowa, Blueish and Ochoco Mountains of northeast and central Oregon.

Are wolves reducing hunting opportunities for big game?

Big game hunting tags have non been reduced due to wolves in any Oregon wildlife management unit.

What can ODFW do about wolves and large game populations?

Healthy big game populations are of import for Oregon'due south citizens and local economics and will also play an of import role in achieving wolf conservation in Oregon. ODFW will manage wolf numbers in residue with big game and other wildlife populations.

ODFW closely monitors both wolf and game (deer, elk, bighorn sheep, caprine animal) populations. As wolf numbers increment and wolf population objectives are met, ODFW will evaluate wolves' impact on game populations. If game populations are beneath their management goals and wolf predation is determined to be a master cause of their reject, ODFW could have steps including translocation and controlled have of wolves. For more data, see Chapter 5 (Wolf-Ungulate Interactions) of the Wolf Plan.

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Source: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/wolves/faq.asp

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