ODFW Called To Several Depredations To Wrap Up October

Crews with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife were busy with several depredations to wrap up October. Investigators were called to a dead cow as well as an injured cow in the Howard Butte area of Wallowa County. The two cows were discovered early Thursday morning on 23,000 acres of private forested land. It’s estimated the dead cow was killed 3-5 days earlier, while the injured cow was attack roughly 48 hours before being discovered.

Approximately 60% of the carcass remained but all organs and the left hind leg were consumed.  Portions of the remaining hide were shaved and skinned for examination. There were more than seven pre-mortem tooth scrapes on the right hind leg measuring ¼" wide, with underlying tissue trauma and hemorrhage extending up to one inch deep. There were also pre-mortem tooth scrapes and underlying tissue damage and hemorrhaging on and under the left elbow, extending two inches deep. The injured cow had at least ten bite scrapes measuring up to ¼" wide on the inside of the right hind leg above the hock. There were also bite scrapes, swelling and torn tissue around the vulva. The pre-mortem trauma and location, size, and direction of tooth scrapes is similar to other confirmed wolf attacks on cattle.

These are two separate events of depredation within the Wildcat AKWA. ODFW is unable to determine what wolves are responsible at this time, as a radio-collared wolf from the Wenaha Pack was also present in the area near the time of the depredations and both packs have been using this area.

Then on Friday October 29^th, crews were called to a Jackson County area ranch were three dead steers, all roughly 650 pounds in size, were discovered. All three carcasses were skinned and shaved. All three had numerous pre-mortem tooth scrapes and punctures up to ¼" wide at both elbows and on the inside and outside of both hind legs above the hocks with associated hemorrhage and tissue trauma up to 2 ½" deep. The size, location and severity of wounds are consistent with wolf attacks on cattle.

This depredation event is attributed to the Rogue Pack.

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