ODFW: Wolf Population Up 15%

The wolf population in Oregon continues to climb. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 158 wolves were counted statewide this past winter. That’s a 15% increase over last year’s count. The number of packs increased as well, up from 16 last year, to 22 packs in this most recent count. Three of those packs were found in the Blue Mountains south of I-84.

ODFW confirmed 16 wolf depredations of livestock, down 43% from the 28 confirmed last year. Confirmed losses (livestock killed or euthanized) in 2019 were one adult cow, one steer, 11 calves, six sheep, and one livestock protection dog. In addition to the confirmed losses, one calf was confirmed injured by wolves. Less than 30% of packs that were present in 2019 depredated on livestock. Five packs each depredated one time, and one pack depredated twice. The majority of Oregon’s wolf depredation was attributed to the Rogue Pack, which depredated nine times in 2019.

Depredation in the portion of Oregon that ODFW manages (east of the Highways 395, 78 & 95 boundary) did not meet a level where lethal removal was requested or authorized. No wolves were lethally removed by ODFW in 2019 for chronic depredation.

OR7, the breeding male of the Rogue Pack, was photographed in the fall but was not documented during the winter count, though his mate is still present in the pack area with three wolves. No reproduction for the pack was documented during 2019.  OR7 is estimated to be 11 years old (born in 2009).

“We don’t know if OR7 has died, but it would be reasonable to assume considering his age, which is old for a wolf in the wild,” said Roblyn Brown, ODFW Wolf Coordinator. “It is natural for packs to change over time as individual wolves are born, disperse or die.”

Eight new packs were designated, and all are breeding pairs: Bear Creek, Clark Creek, Cornucopia, Desolation, Fivemile, Heppner, Indigo and Keating. Three packs that previously qualified as packs, no longer have four individuals, that includes the Snake River, South Snake, and Wildcat.

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