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.”
Defenders of Wildlife is celebrating 75 years of protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.2 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit defenders.org/newsroom and follow us on Twitter @Defenders.
