At least one, probably three wolves living near Walla Walla River Wolves are now living in northern Umatilla County, state wildlife officials confirmed Monday. Mark Kirsch is the Umatilla District wildlife biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. He said more than one Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf has settled in the Walla Walla River/Mill Creek system. "When we say more than one wolf, I think we're pretty confident we have no less than three," Kirsch said.
Sources close to the East Oregonian revealed other ODFW officials asserted it was definitely three wolves. Those sources also said the state wildlife agency was contacting elected officials, cattle and sheep ranches and other "stakeholders" rather than first releasing information about the wolves to news agencies or the general public.
No matter how many wolves are in the county, Kirsch said it's too early to define what kind of "social formation" these wolves are in.
"We know so little at this point," Kirsch said. "The source of our current efforts is to try and understand that."
Andrew Picken of Pendleton reported seeing a trio of wolves south of Milton-Freewater on Jan. 2. He even shot some video and took photos, but the animals were too far away to positively identify them as wolves.
Kirsch said tracks in the snow revealed the wolves are here. He explained wolves will travel behind one another, stepping into each other's paw prints. It took a while following the tracks before seeing divergent paths.
Roblyn Brown, ODFW's assistant wolf coordinator, said the agency is keen to receive information about wolf sightings. She encouraged anyone who spots a wolf or wolf sign to call the ODFW office in La Grande at 541-963-2138, or go to the agency's wolf Web page (www.dfw.state.or.us/wolves/) and click on the link to report wolf sightings. Visitors also can sign up for ODFW updates about wolves.
Single wolves have come into Umatilla County in the past, but Kirsch said single wolves tend to move a lot and don't stay in one place for long.
And while wolves now are living in the northern part of Umatilla County, Kirsch said, when summer arrives, their range could increase into Washington state. If they stay put, that is.
Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves have federal and state endangered species protection. There have been no efforts to reintroduce wolves in Oregon after people killed the animal off about 80 years ago. The wolves have been moving into Oregon from Idaho naturally. As they do, Kirsch said, they will spread to new places. "This could have happened anywhere in northern Oregon," Kirsch said. "It just happened to happen here."
No matter how many wolves are in the county, Kirsch said it's too early to define what kind of "social formation" these wolves are in.
"We know so little at this point," Kirsch said. "The source of our current efforts is to try and understand that."
Andrew Picken of Pendleton reported seeing a trio of wolves south of Milton-Freewater on Jan. 2. He even shot some video and took photos, but the animals were too far away to positively identify them as wolves.
Kirsch said tracks in the snow revealed the wolves are here. He explained wolves will travel behind one another, stepping into each other's paw prints. It took a while following the tracks before seeing divergent paths.
Roblyn Brown, ODFW's assistant wolf coordinator, said the agency is keen to receive information about wolf sightings. She encouraged anyone who spots a wolf or wolf sign to call the ODFW office in La Grande at 541-963-2138, or go to the agency's wolf Web page (www.dfw.state.or.us/wolves/) and click on the link to report wolf sightings. Visitors also can sign up for ODFW updates about wolves.
Single wolves have come into Umatilla County in the past, but Kirsch said single wolves tend to move a lot and don't stay in one place for long.
And while wolves now are living in the northern part of Umatilla County, Kirsch said, when summer arrives, their range could increase into Washington state. If they stay put, that is.
Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves have federal and state endangered species protection. There have been no efforts to reintroduce wolves in Oregon after people killed the animal off about 80 years ago. The wolves have been moving into Oregon from Idaho naturally. As they do, Kirsch said, they will spread to new places. "This could have happened anywhere in northern Oregon," Kirsch said. "It just happened to happen here."
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