Pacific West Wolves: In the Field

March 13, 2008

Defenders staff attended the first wolf agency/NGO meeting since B300 was documented in January in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area just north of LaGrand , Oregon . She is the only confirmed wolf in the state (she came from Idaho's Timberline pack) but there are several more reports that indicate other wolves may have been in the area for a few years.

It was a collaborative meeting with a strong focus on gearing up on proactive deterrents, public outreach/education, program funding, and strengthening partnerships with NGOs, area schools, hunters and the ranching community. We also discussed the elements of the Oregon wolf management that are being implemented now as the state, federal and tribal agencies are transitioning from theoretically having wolves to having real ones now on the ground. Currently, wolves are protected under the state's ESA and will remain so after wolves are federally delisted until four breeding pairs are documented in the eastern part of the state for three consecutive years. For more information about the plan, visit http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wolves/.