ODFW Called To Back To Back Depredations
After roughly four weeks of quiet, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife crews were called to their 2nd depredation in as many days last week. On Tuesday, May 26th, a livestock owner reported seeing eight wolves around the remains of a six-week-old, 180 lb. calf in a partially timbered 850-acre pasture on public land in the Cow Creek area of Wallowa County. Investigators said that carcass was intact and the majority of the hide was present; most of the tissue was missing.
The calf was estimated to have died within 24 hours of the investigation.
The carcass was shaved, skinned, and examined. There were at least 20 pre-mortem bite scrapes on the hindquarters up to ¼” wide and 2” long. There were pre-mortem tooth scrapes and punctures on the hide near both elbows, including premortem hemorrhage and torn muscle 1¾” deep in the corresponding tissue. The size and location of bite wounds and severity of trauma are similar to those observed in other calves attacked by wolves.
Tuesday’s depredation is attributed to the Chesnimnus Pack, the pack responsible for the depredation a day earlier.
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