Oregon Authorizes Killing of Harl Butte Wolves

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife authorized the lethal removal of two wolves from the Harl Butte Pack in Wallowa County, Oregon. The pack has had three confirmed depredations on livestock in 2017, two of which were on public land.

Quinn Read, Northwest representative for Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:

“Defenders of Wildlife is dismayed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s decision to authorize killing wolves. Non-lethal coexistence measures – such as range riders, fox lights, guardian livestock dogs, fladry and proper herd management – are proven to significantly lower the number of depredations. But no method – including killing wolves – will put a stop to losses when livestock are grazed openly in wildlife habitat on national forest lands.

“The territory of the Harl Butte pack is rugged wilderness full of wildlife. It is not suitable for grazing. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife should be working with the Forest Service to address problematic grazing allotments and practices, not killing wolves.

“We also urge the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to complete the long-delayed revision of the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. This situation demonstrates the urgent need for clear and enforceable guidelines on nonlethal management tools, transparency in agency decision-making procedures, and policies that protect our still vulnerable wolf population. Had a new plan with adequate safeguards and guidelines been in place, we might have been able to avoid this tragic outcome.”