The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued a second permit allowing a landowner, or agent, to kill up to two wolves in the High Valley of Union County.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife/Contributed Photo, File
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued a second permit allowing a landowner, or agent, to kill up to two wolves in the High Valley of Union County.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife/Contributed Photo, File
LA GRANDE — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued a second permit allowing the killing of up to two more wolves from the High Valley area between Union and Cove in Union County.
Federal agents from the USDA Wildlife Services, acting on behalf of a rancher under a permit ODFW issued on Thursday, Jan. 12, have killed two wolves in that area, one on Feb. 4 and the other on Feb. 22.
Agents actually trapped two wolves on Feb. 22, but they collared and released the second wolf because the original permit authorized killing no more than two wolves.
The ODFW said in a press release on Feb. 28 that wolves continue to be a significant risk to livestock in the area. The state issued the new permit to the landowner who has had four depredations on their property since late December.
The permit allows the landowner or their agent to lethally remove an additional two wolves on the private property where the previous depredations occurred. The permit is valid until April 23 or until two wolves have been killed, whichever comes first.
The Jan. 12 permit was issued after the state confirmed attacks on cattle on Christmas Day, Dec. 29 and Jan. 10.
The attacks, in which five calves were killed, all occurred on private land in High Valley in the Catherine Creek Wildlife Management Unit.
The wolves have moved into the area to fill a void created by the death of the Catherine Pack. In February 2021, five wolves, making up the entire Catherine Pack, were found dead from poisoning southeast of Mount Harris.
The state anticipated that wolves would be moving into the Catherine Creek Wildlife Management Unit, which includes much of Union County and runs from Elgin south past North Powder, after the poisoning.
In addition to the new permit for wolves in the High Valley area, ODFW last week issued a separate permit allowing ranchers or their agents to kill up to two wolves from a different group that has attacked cattle at least three times in the Medical Springs area, near the border of Baker and Union counties, since Jan. 27.
One calf was killed and another injured in one attack, and on Feb. 2 wolves killed a border collie on a ranch near Medical Springs. That permit to kill two wolves is valid until March 31.
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I am glad ODFW is issuing more permits to "allow" rancher's to use lethal force to take out wolves that are killing their dogs and livestock. LOL, I am pretty sure as American's we have the right to defend our private property and livelihood without a "permit" from a phony government agency. I will take care of myself, ODFW, without your "permission". But thanks anyhow.
And the Native Americans owned your land before your ancestors took it from them. Are you prepared to hand it back to them? Didn't think so....food for thought.
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I am glad ODFW is issuing more permits to "allow" rancher's to use lethal force to take out wolves that are killing their dogs and livestock. LOL, I am pretty sure as American's we have the right to defend our private property and livelihood without a "permit" from a phony government agency. I will take care of myself, ODFW, without your "permission". But thanks anyhow.
It was the wolves land first. Food for thought.
And the Native Americans owned your land before your ancestors took it from them. Are you prepared to hand it back to them? Didn't think so....food for thought.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.