Posted on Apr 28, 2021
Oregon counts more gray wolves in 2020, but concerns for their safety abound
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The total population of gray wolves in Oregon increased again in 2020, continuing the species’ slow but steady rebound.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Wednesday it counted a total of 173 wolves this past winter — up 9.5% from the previous year. That is likely an undercount of the entire wolf population in the state, but serves as a minimum estimate.
The minimum wolf population in Oregon has increased every year since the canids reestablished here in 2009.
“We are encouraged but also cautious at the same time because the population size is increasing slowly,” said Dr. Sristi Kamal, the senior Northwest representative for the conservation group Defenders of Wildlife. “The species is still very much in recovery.”
Oregon documented 22 wolf packs in 2020, the same number as the year prior, and those packs grew in population only slightly. The number of Oregon counties with wolves also stayed steady at 12.
The state lost two breeding pairs last year after poachers took out breeding males in the Ruckle Ridge and Cornucopia packs.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Wednesday it counted a total of 173 wolves this past winter — up 9.5% from the previous year. That is likely an undercount of the entire wolf population in the state, but serves as a minimum estimate.
The minimum wolf population in Oregon has increased every year since the canids reestablished here in 2009.
“We are encouraged but also cautious at the same time because the population size is increasing slowly,” said Dr. Sristi Kamal, the senior Northwest representative for the conservation group Defenders of Wildlife. “The species is still very much in recovery.”
Oregon documented 22 wolf packs in 2020, the same number as the year prior, and those packs grew in population only slightly. The number of Oregon counties with wolves also stayed steady at 12.
The state lost two breeding pairs last year after poachers took out breeding males in the Ruckle Ridge and Cornucopia packs.
Oregon counts more gray wolves in 2020, but concerns for their safety abound
Posted from opb.org
Conservation
Wildlife
Posted >1 y ago
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Ranchers are quick to blame wolves for the loss of livestock. And, it may be true is it really wolves, or is it coyotes, or even mountain lions? Hunters are against wolves because they say that they are destroying the population of elk and deer but a recent study (I read about it just last night in a magazine called "Bugle" published by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation) indicated that Mountain Lions are killing young elk calves at a rate six to seven times higher than wolves. The study was done by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
If you are a member of RMEF this story is on page 89 of the May/Jun 2021 issue of Bugle magazine. Sorry, I don't have a web link to include with this but if you google it you may find (with some luck!) the study.
If you are a member of RMEF this story is on page 89 of the May/Jun 2021 issue of Bugle magazine. Sorry, I don't have a web link to include with this but if you google it you may find (with some luck!) the study.
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