Klamath county free of wolf attacks in 2017

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By STEPHEN FLOYD, Herald and News 1/12/18

Klamath County free of wolf attacks in 2017

For the first time on record, Klamath County has not received a report of wolf depredation within its borders for an entire year, despite livestock attacks nearby in recent weeks.

During a meeting Thursday of the Klamath County Wolf Depredation Advisory Council, committee members said they were not requesting reimbursements funds from the state for 2017 because no livestock losses were reported during that time.

Commissioner Donnie Boyd, county liaison to the council, said this was an example of the council achieving its purpose to reduce local wolf attacks.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “I think the goal is to not have any livestock loss.”

The council was formed in 2013 in response to an increase in wolf activity in Oregon. Their goal was to use non-lethal methods to deter wolves and to distribute reimbursement funds from the state to livestock owners impacted by wolves. The county did not keep a record of wolf attacks until after the council was formed.

Lani Hickey, environmental resource manager for county public works, said 2017 was the first year since the council was formed that no wolf depredation was reported. Without a need to reimburse ranchers, she said the council can dedicate grant funding this year to education and prevention, including public workshops to teach residents more about wolves.

This announcement came shortly after a series of depredations in Jackson County carried out by the Rogue Pack. Though the pack’s territory includes parts of Klamath County, wildlife officials said Rogue wolves typically winter in Jackson County.

In the interest of continuing to prevent local wolf attacks, the council approved moving forward Thursday with the purchase of a tilt trailer for the removal of dead livestock. Hickey said the trailer would not be simply for animals attacked by wolves, but any carcass that may attract the predators.

She said the county would purchase the trailer at an estimated cost of $7,830 from Frontier Trailer Sales & Service, then transfer the title to the state, who would be in a better position to respond to needs for carcass transportation. The funding would come from a state grant awarded last year.

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