Since August of this year, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has authorized the killing of 10 wolves in its effort to protect cattle on both public and private lands.

Just last Friday, ODFW issued a kill permit allowing “livestock producers” affiliated with a local grazing association to kill up to four Harl Butte pack wolves (any wolves of the pack – including pups) in pastures on public or private land currently occupied by their livestock.

Last year, ODFW killed the entire Imnaha Pack.

Is killing entire wolf packs every couple of years a solution?

Moreover, are poachers following suit?

ODFW announced last night that federally protected wolf OR-33 was illegally shot and killed. The body of the 4-year-old wolf was found on the Fremont-Winema National Forest. He was wearing a collar.

A recent study by Guillaume Chapron and Adrian Treves shows government-sanctioned killing is more likely to increase poaching than reduce it.

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