Oregon Wolf Packs Making a Comeback

Oregon wolf packs are making a comeback, and it's a heartwarming story.

In 2008, the Oregon wolf population was estimated to be around 15 wolves in a few small packs.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has been monitoring the wolf population, and their efforts have paid off.

The number of wolf packs in Oregon has grown steadily, with 20 packs reported in 2020.

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Today, there are about 15,000 wolves remaining in the U.S., including Alaska, according to the Wolf Conservation Center.

More than 3,000 of those wolves occupy six states in the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest.

Wolves have made a significant comeback from being on the brink of extinction due to a government-sponsored program of trapping and poisoning in the 1930s.

Estimates suggest there may have been as many as two million wolves in North America before European colonists arrived.

Conservationists like Weiss believe it's their job to undo the damage caused to the wolf population and restore their place in the ecosystem.

Having wolves back makes for a healthier place on the landscape, according to Weiss.

Here are some benefits of wolf recovery:

The Oregon wolf packs have been thriving in recent years, with a notable increase in their population. As of 2022, there are over 200 wolves in the state, with many more sightings reported throughout the year.

The majority of wolf sightings occur in eastern Oregon, where the wolves have adapted to living in a mix of forest and grassland habitats. This region provides them with an abundance of prey, such as deer and elk.

The presence of wolves in Oregon has also led to a shift in the behavior of other wildlife, with some species changing their habits to avoid being preyed upon. For example, deer have been spotted moving more cautiously through the woods, often in larger groups for added safety.

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Four new wolves have been spotted in the Cascade Mountains, marking a joyous moment for wolf advocates.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced this week that it identified a family of wolves with two adults and two pups.

They were spotted on trail cameras in December on the reservation of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, about 160 kilometres southeast of Portland.

Four wolves constitute a pack, and if the entire family survives to the end of the year, they will be officially dubbed the Warm Springs Pack.

This would bring the total number of wolf packs in the state to 22.

Wolves in the Cascades are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Most of Oregon's wolf packs live in the eastern part of the state.

Highways 97, 20, and 395 are used by wildlife officials to determine whether wolf packs live in the eastern or western portions of the state.

The location of wolf packs matters because Oregon's wildlife management plan allows for killing wolves to protect livestock in the eastern part of the state.

However, areas west of highways 97, 20, and 395 are protected by federal law, which means wolves living there are not subject to lethal control.

Only three wolf packs live in the western half of Oregon, where federal protection applies.

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In Oregon, there are at least 175 wolves, with 21 documented packs as of 2021.

The number of wolf mortalities that year was 26, with 21 caused by humans.

Wolves expanded their range into four new areas of activity in rural Oregon counties.

Illegal hunting is a major concern, with Weiss calling on law enforcement to do more to enforce laws protecting wolves.

A judge restored federal protections for wolves in western Oregon, which were removed during the Trump administration.

These protections should be expanded to cover the whole state, according to Weiss.

Some farmers worry about their livestock, but Indigenous people lived alongside wolves before European settlers arrived.

Farmers can employ methods like using sheepdogs or having humans on horseback watch over their herds.

Many agencies are working with livestock owners to show them best management practices for coexisting with wolves.

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