Wolf Died After Encountering An M-44

Recently in Wallowa county Oregon, Wolf OR48 from the shamrock pack dies after an unintentional take by the Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services.

The wolf died after encountering an M-44 device. A spring-activated device containing cyanide powder. The device was in place as part of Wildlife Services operations to control coyotes and prevent coyote-livestock conflict on private land in northeast Oregon.

According to Doug Cottam, ODFW Wildlife Division administrator "The death of this wolf shows the risk involved when wolves are in areas where Wildlife Services conducts these types of operations," "This is a situation we take seriously and we'll be working with Wildlife Services with the goal of preventing it from happening again."

ODFW and Wildlife Services are evaluating the incident and discussing how to prevent unintentional capture or take of wolves while addressing livestock damage problems.

Here's Matt with some statistics on livestock predator damage to give you a better idea why we need to manage Coyote populations.

Coyotes, foxes, and feral dogs cause substantial damage to livestock and poultry producers, particularly those with sheep and goats.

In a 2004 survey of producers, the National Agricultural Statistics Service found that coyotes nationwide killed an estimated 135,600 sheep and lambs worth a total of $10.7 million. A 2005 survey found that coyotes killed an estimated 97,000 head of cattle worth $43.9 million and that coyotes nationwide killed an estimated 135,600 sheep and lambs worth a total of $10.7 million.

It's a good thing we have fish and wildlife and predator hunters to help manages their numbers.