Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to Hold Meeting on Wolf Delisting Tomorrow in Bend

The ODFW will hold a meeting tomorrow morning at the Deschutes National Forest offices in Bend on whether or not to begin the process of delisting wolves as an endangered species in Oregon.

The meeting will adjourn at 8 a.m. at 63095 Deschutes Market Rd. and will include public testimony as well as the presentation of the ODFW's "Biological status review for the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) in Oregon and evaluation of criteria to remove the Gray Wolf from the List of Endangered Species under the Oregon Endangered Species Act," which can be viewed as a PDF here.

Photo; Gary Kramer, USFWS

There are now an estimated 77 wolves in Oregon, including 26 pups and four breeding pairs in Eastern Oregon.  According to Russ Morgan, ODFW Wolf Coordinator, "wolves are a success story in Oregon.  Their population is growing and their range is expanding."  Morgan further justifies the move by saying, "the state's Wolf Plan has measures to protect wolves into the future should the commission decide to initiate a delisting process."

While wolves in the western two thirds of the state would still be protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act, environmental groups oppose the proposed action arguing that, among other things, delisting would send the wrong message, potentially giving residents the impression that killing wolves is OK.