ODFW Update: Two confirmed depredations by the Pine Creek Pack

ODFW staff shot two wolves from the Pine Creek Pack (an uncollared yearling female and an uncollared adult male) this morning. The wolves were on private land and were shot from a helicopter. Last night (evening of April 17), ODFW announced that additional lethal control of two wolves was authorized after a confirmed depredation on Sunday and two more confirmed depredations on Monday, April 16. These depredations occurred in a different area about 5-6 miles away from the April 6-7 depredations. (Reports on the Monday investigations should be posted online sometime today). The three recent depredations bring the total to five incidents of depredation by the Pine Creek Pack, killing four calves and injuring six calves and affecting two different livestock producers. Producers in the new area have been implementing non-lethal activities including burying bone piles and removing carcasses. Ranch staff have hazed the wolves away multiple times. Ranch staff have also been patrolling cattle from before daylight until darkness daily and keeping track of the wolves’ location with ODFW assistance.  Finally, ranch staff have delayed turning out cattle on large open range pastures and have moved cattle from pastures where  the most recent depredations occurred. ODFW had planned to provide the latest producer affected with a kill permit for two wolves, but as ODFW staff have already killed two wolves, no kill permit will be issued to this producer. The Pine Creek Pack is now estimated to number five wolves including a breeding male (OR50), breeding female and three yearling wolves. One additional wolf from the pack could still be taken back at the site of the April 6-7 depredations by ODFW staff or under a kill permit that expires May 4.