Oregon Gets Funds To Help Ranchers Deal With Wolves

A nearly $100 thousand federal grant aimed at helping farmers and ranchers find new ways to stop wolves from killing their livestock is coming to Oregon.  Elli Gage, with Western Landowners Alliance, said preventing depredations is difficult because wolves are very intelligent.

“And they become habituated quickly. That means any kind of novel stimuli of flashing lights or loud noises, or even human presence, wolves become accustomed to that and it’s no longer as effective. Sometimes it’s no longer effective at all.”

USDA awarded funding to the alliance to study three non-lethal control categories: range riding, carcass management and new fencing options.  Gage said they’re working on how technology can help, including smart game cameras that could track wolf movements and notify ranchers in real-time of a wolf’s location.

The work will primarily focus on Baker, Douglas, Grant and Wallowa counties.

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