Oregon reaches deal on wolf kills
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
May 29, 2013
Oregon wildlife officials have reached a settlement agreement with wolf activists over how problem wolves are dealt with. Under the deal, lethal control is a last resort. Non-lethal measures must be used first and attacks on livestock must be deemed "chronic" before a wolf can be killed.
The agreement:
Requires livestock operators to implement and demonstrate the use of basic non-lethal measures to prevent conflict prior to requesting the state to kill wolves.
Requires the state to assist livestock operators in implementing non-lethal measures, document their use, and increase public transparency before killing wolves.
Defines "chronic depredation" more appropriately and puts reasonable parameters on kill orders so they are limited to wolves that have caused recent recurring losses to livestock operators. The previous definition could apply to wolves that had not yet been born when depredations occurred.
Codifies provisions from the 2005 Oregon Wolf Plan allowing livestock operators to kill wolves without a permit if they are caught in the act of attacking their livestock. To prevent abuse, the agreement requires a thorough investigation of any such kills. Such actions will be quite rare if the agreement is followed.
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