Wolves have returned to Central Oregon for the first time in more than half a century. Learn more about these charismatic mammals from John Stephenson, the US Fish & Wildlife biologist in charge of wolf recovery in Oregon.

1. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Jan 2012
Wolf Recovery in Oregon

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The Northern Rocky Mts. Recovery Program
1980: Recovery Plan is published
– 3 Recovery Areas
– Recovery Criteria: 10+ breeding pairs in
each area for 3 consecutive years
1994: Release of EIS for Reintroduction
– Revised Recovery Criteria: 30+ breeding
pairs & 300+ wolves across the 3 areas,
with genetic interchange between areas.

5. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Reintroduction to Central Idaho & Yellowstone NP
Jan 1995: Wolves released
– 15 in Central Idaho
– 14 in Yellowstone NP
Jan 1996: 2nd release
– 20 more in Central Idaho
– 17 more in Yellowstone NP

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The Northern Rockies Population Grows…
1999

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• 2-yr old female found near
Baker City, OR in Feb 1999
• Kept heading west into the
Middle Fk, John Day R. Basin
• Caught Oregon by surprise!
In 1999, A Wolf Comes to Oregon!
She was captured & returned to
Idaho on March 26, 1999, where
she raised pups & survived for
many years in the McCall area.
Her skeleton was found in a
meadow in Oct. 2006.
B45

9. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Other Early OR Explorers
In 2000, a year after B45, two other Idaho wolves
were found in Oregon. Unfortunately, both were
found dead, one shot and one hit by a car on I-84.
B45

10. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
A Period of Few Wolves,
& Productive Planning
2001-2005: 0 confirmed wolves
2004/2005: ODFW develops & approves a
Wolf Management Plan for Oregon

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The Northern Rockies Population Takes Off…
2005

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1,513 wolves at end of 2007

13. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Feb. 2007: 1st Proposed Rule
Mar. 2008: Goes into effect
DELISTED
July 2008: Injunction on rule
LISTED AGAIN
To be continued…
NRM DPS
Distinct Population Segment

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2006 - Black Wolf Caught on Video,
Becomes TV Celebrity
• July 2006 on Zumwalt Prairie, Wallowa County
• This wolf was seen several times that summer & then disappeared.
• Same area later occupied by the Imnaha Pack

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2007/08 – Discovering Oregon’s 1st Pack!
May 2007: Mushroom pickers found a dead wolf. A female
wolf, originally from Idaho, had been illegally shot.
Winter 2007/08: Wolf tracks found during snow surveys.
July 2008: Adults & pups heard howling!
Remained unseen until Aug. 2010 when one was finally
captured & radio-collared!
Wenaha Pack

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B300
• In Jan. 2008, this 2-yr old collared wolf from Idaho shows up in
the Wallowa Mts.
• Her radio-collar died in the Fall of 2008.

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The Honeymoon Ends in Keating Valley

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2009 Keating Valley Incident
Apr. 13: Photos confirm 2 wolves killed 23 lambs.
Apr. 16: Fladry fencing is put up around several pastures to protect
livestock from further attacks.
May 3: A young male wolf, OR1, is captured & radio-collared.
May 4: Wolves are federally delisted in this part of Oregon.
May-Aug: ODFW repeatedly hazes the wolves away from the valley.
Aug 26-27: Wolves return to same ranch; kill a goat & 3 lambs.
Sep 3: Kill order is issued by ODFW and the 2 wolves are removed.
OR1

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B300 becomes OR2 & founder of
the Imnaha Pack
July 2009: B300 is recaptured by ODFW and fitted with a new radio-
collar. She weighed 77 lbs and it was evident that she’d had pups
earlier in the year.
OR2

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Nov. 2009: Video footage shows 10 wolves trailing through the snow.
Feb. 2010: Three more Imnaha wolves are radio-collared, including the
alpha male (OR4).
Rise of the Imnaha Pack
OR3
OR4
OR5

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Imnaha Pack – 2010
May 2010: Five confirmed livestock depredations occur in short
succession between May 5th & the 31st. All are on private ranchlands and
all are cow calves.
June 2010: After a 6th confirmed depredation, and extensive efforts to
control the problem with non-lethal techniques, a kill order is issued to
remove two wolves. Wildlife Services is unsuccessful in its wolf removal
efforts as the pack moves back up into the forest.
July 2010: Four new pups observed.
Dec 2010: 15 wolves counted in aerial survey!

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Efforts to Protect Livestock
• Regular updates to ranchers on locations of collared wolves.
• Clean up of old bone piles & carcasses that attract wolves.
• Hazing with aircraft and cracker shells
• Electrified Fladry Fencing
• Radio-activated noise boxes
• Range Rider Program

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Chronic Depredation
• Sometimes non-lethal control techniques don’t solve the problem.
• Selective lethal control has been proven to reduce depredations &
resolve problems while not significantly slowing wolf recovery.
• Lethal control is controversial and often triggers legal challenges.

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Wenaha Pack
Aug 2010: 2-yr old male (OR6) is radio collared
Sep 2010: OR6 found dead; illegally shot
• Pack has remained small (4 to 6 individuals)
• No livestock depredation problems!!
• Two pups in 2010; At least 1 in 2011
The Low Profile Pack
OR62010 pup
2011 pup

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Wenaha
Imnaha

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Wallowa Valley
“Wolf Highway”

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Imnaha Pack – 2011
Feb.: Three more wolves radio-collared (OR7, OR8, OR9). OR8 died
several days after capture.
Mar./Apr.: Extensive efforts undertaken during calving season to prevent
livestock loss.
Late-Apr/May: Depredations resume after turnout to larger pastures.
May: ODFW removes two subadult wolves after repeated livestock losses.
Sep.: Pack shrinks to 4 or 5 members as OR3, OR5, OR7, OR9 disperse.
Only one pup seen with pack.
Sep/Oct.: Several more depredations. ODFW announces plan to remove
2 more wolves, but is challenged in court & an injunction is granted.
Dec.: 5 more depredations have occurred since the injunction was
granted on Oct. 5th.

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An Example of the Fallout

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OR7’s
Famous
Journey

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From the British Tabloid, The Daily Mail

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Other
Westward
Wanderers
Santiam Pass, Jan. 2009

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OR3

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Jul-Aug
May
Sep. 30

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Pack #3: Walla Walla
• Tracks 1st observed in Jan. 2011
• Trail cam photos in Aug/Sep 2011
• Two pups collared in Oct. 2011
OR10
OR11

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Pack #4: Snake River

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Feb. 2007: 1st Proposed Rule
Mar. 2008: Goes into effect
DELISTED
July 2008: Injunction on rule
LISTED AGAIN
May 2009: Rule reissued
DELISTED
Aug. 2010: Court invalidates rule
LISTED AGAIN
May 2011: Rule reinstated by Congress
DELISTED
NRM DPS
Continued…

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NRM DPS Wolf Population spills into OR & WA
2010

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Hwy 395 - The DPS Boundary

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Known Wolf Packs in Washington
Northern
Rocky
Mountain
DPS

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New Teanaway Pack in Central Washington Cascades

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STATUS REVIEW
Wolves in the Pacific Northwest
• Initiated in May 2011
• Assess biological status of wolves in region
• Assess conservation potential in region
• Due for release by end of February 2012

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Pacific Northwest Wolf Habitat Models

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Key Needs for the Future
• Ability to Manage Problem Situations
• Realistic Recovery Criteria
o PNW can’t support an NRM-size Population
• Compensation Program for Livestock Depredations
• More Cooperation & Tolerance, Less Vitriol & Litigation

52. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Depredation Compensation
• Defenders of Wildlife no longer has comp. program
• Oregon recently approved a program under the Dept. of
Agriculture. It is just getting started & requires county
participation.
• Washington’s Wolf Plan also includes a compensation
program.

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Thank You
John Stephenson
U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
541 312-6429
john_stephenson@fws.gov

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