BEND, OR -- Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet in Bend on Friday to discuss the possibility of removing gray wolves from the state’s endangered species list. Michelle Dennehy with ODFW tells KBND News the move likely won't impact Central Oregon, since most wolf activity in the state occurs in the Northeast corner.
"One thing to note, that west of Highways 395, 78 and 95 wolves remain listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act, so the federal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is kind of in charge of management," Dennehy says. "We work collaboratively with them. Right now, if a delisting were to occur, it would frankly have little impact because our wolf plan has protections for wolves into the future."
She says that plan calls for initiating the removal of gray wolves from the state Endangered Species List, once there is confirmation of four breeding pairs in three consecutive years. That objective was met in February, with the addition of OR-7’s pups.
"At this point, our known wolf activity is in northeast Oregon, and we also have a known wolf pack – the Rogue wolf pack, which is OR-7’s pack – in the southwest Cascades," Dennehy says. "We’re also aware of another pair of wolves in the southwest Cascades. We don’t have any known wolf activity at this time in Central Oregon."
The wolf known as OR-7 rose to fame three years ago during his trek from the northeast corner of the state through Central Oregon, and eventually to the southwest Cascades, where he started his own pack.
Dennehy adds, "Wolves really are a success story for Oregon; they’ve done well, they’re increasing in Oregon, and they’re expanding their range. Regardless of what happens with the delisting, we have a wolf plan that protects wolves in place in Oregon."
The commission meets Friday at the Deschutes National Forest Office in Bend. The meeting begins at 8:00 a.m. The full agenda is available HERE.
Photo credit: Wenaha pack pups, 2012
Courtesy Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
