PORTLAND, Ore. (Apr. 12, 2017) – Oregon’s 2016 wolf count was released yesterday by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The total number of wolves was 112, only up two from last year.
While the overall number seems to have stagnated, more concerning is that the number of breeding pairs has decreased. Breeding pairs are a critical metric of wolf recovery. In 2015, there were 11 breeding pairs, and that number fell to eight in 2016.
Quinn Read, Northwest representative for Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:
“We are saddened that wolf recovery seems to have stalled in the wake of delisting. What this count tells us is that we can’t take wolf recovery in Oregon for granted. With the proposed Oregon Wolf Management Plan revisions being presented to the Fish and Wildlife Commission next week, we will be vigilant in advocating for the continued protection of wolves for all Oregonians.”
For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.
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