Oregon Governor Urged to Order Lone Wolf Preying on Lake County Calves Shot or Captured

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has been requested to direct the Department of Fish and Wildlife to capture or shoot a lone wolf that is killing calves in Lake County.

The urgent request follows a Public Safety and Livestock Emergency declaration by the Lake County Board of Commissioners, effective since Tuesday.

Lone Wolf OR158 is Declared a Threat to Public and Livestock Safety

The lone wolf, tagged as OR158, has been declared a threat to public and livestock safety. The county has appealed to the governor for ‘immediate assistance’ to remove the wolf from Lake County ‘by whatever legal means necessary.’

Kotek is requested to instruct the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to undertake the operation ‘as allowed under Code Federal Regulations Title 50, Section 17.’ This regulation allows wildlife to be ‘taken in self-defense or defense of others.’

New-Born Calves Are at Risk – Five Already Killed

There are more than 3,000 head of cattle in the vicinity where the wolf is operating. It is now calving season, and the new-born livestock are an easy target for the lone hunter, according to Lake County Commissioner Barry Shullanberger.

In the last 10 days, five calves have been killed, and the wolf could be responsible for three other kills in Lake County. Lone Wolf OR158 has been hunting and killing in Baker County, Oregon, and Modoc County, California, before arriving in the district.

Cold weather and deep snow exacerbate the situation by further endangering conditions for calves. According to Shullanberger, the wolf travels alone and has most recently been active in the Valley Falls area.

The wolf is collared, enabling the Department of Fish and Wildlife to keep track of its movements.

The decision to take drastic action to remove the wolf follows the unsuccessful attempt by the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) to haze the animal.

Hazing an animal is a non-lethal management technique to scare the animal away by instilling a fear of humans. APHIS uses non-lethal methods like drones and range riders to chase wolves away. While these can be effective, this has not been true in the case of the lone wolf.

According to APHIS, the animal shows ‘no fear of humans or the noises they make.’