Oregon issues wolf kill permits to 8 ranchers

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued permits for eight ranchers in Wallowa County to kill wolves caught in the act of attacking livestock. The department said last week that the ranchers are all in range of the Imnaha pack, and have already used non-lethal methods to protect their herds, such as special fences, range riders and removing bone piles. The Imnaha pack has been blamed for 10 livestock attacks since last year. Two other wolf packs in Oregon have not. After two cattle were killed last week, the department said it would kill two young adults from the Imnaha pack in hopes of discouraging the others from preying on livestock. The "caught in the act" permits are in compliance with the Oregon Wolf Conservation Plan. The permit allows the holder (or an appointed agent) to kill a wolf seen "in the act of biting, wounding or killing livestock" on private property they own or legally occupy. If the permit holder kills a wolf, the incident must be reported within 24 hours to the agency...more