Issue #6 – Predator Control

Adv Animal SciencePrinciples of Industry

Sutherlin AST

Sheep and Predators

Sheep and Predators• Predators one of the most

significant issues today for livestock industry

• Many changes to laws and methods to handling predators

• Public perceptions changing

Sheep and Predators Predator Percent of losses• Coyote - 51.7• Dogs - 22.7• Mountain lions (cougars, pumas, or panthers) - 7.7• Bears - 4.5• Bobcat or Lynx - 3.3• Eagles - 1.1• Foxes - 0.5• Other (wolves, ravens, vultures, unknown) - 8.6

• Source: Sheep and Lamb Predator Death Loss in the U.S. , 2004

Predator Control

• Methods– Lethal– Non-lethal

Predator Control

• Non-Lethal– Translocation– Guard Dogs, Llamas, and

Donkeys– Fencing– Frightening Devices– Penning

Predator Control• Lethal

– Strychnine (poisoned bait)– M-44 Cyanide Injector– Livestock Protection Collar

(w/1080)– Leghold Traps– Snares– Shooting– Aerial Shooting

– HR 4775 The Compound 1080 & M-44 Elimination Act

Predator Control

• US Wildlife Services• Government agency to “provide Federal leadership

and expertise to resolve wildlife conflicts to allow people and wildlife to coexist”

• Federal trappers, etc

Predators

• Coyotes• Most significant of the current predator problems• Considered a varmint; legal to shoot at any time• Bounties still exist in many places

Predators

• Cougars• Huge increase in Oregon’s

cougar population in the past 15 years

• Cannot be hunted with dogs EXCEPT in damage circumstances

Predators

• The Gray Wolf– Eradicated in early 1900’s• Last wolf bounty recorded was in 1946, Douglas County

– First wolf re-entry was in 1999 from Idaho– Established packs in Oregon in 2007– Now 24 confirmed wolves in the population

Predators

• Wolf Predations– Confirmed kills on cattle in

Eastern Oregon– Take orders given for

some wolves

Pack/Area End of 2009 End of 2010 End of 2011 End of 2012

Imnaha Pack 10 15 5 8 *

Wenaha Pack 4 6 5 11 *

Walla Walla Pack 8 * 6 *

Snake River Pack 5 7 *

Umatilla River Pack 2 4 *

Minam Pack 5*

Sled Springs pair 2

Individual wolves 3 2

Radio-collared disperser 1 1

Minimum Total 14 21 29 46**

US 395

Predators

• Wolf protections– Wolves east of US 395 are protected by Oregon

ESA– Wolves west of US 395 are protected by Oregon

AND US ESA (federally protected)

Predators

• Wolf protections– Wolves cannot be killed or

harmed without permits• East – by ODFW, West – by USFW

– Allowed activities w/o permit:• Firing shots in the air to scare

animal away• May not be ‘looking for’ wolves• Report to ODFW

Predators

• Wolf protections– Allowed with permit:• “Harassment of wolves in ways that may cause bodily

harm but not death (e.g., rubber bullets or bean bag projectiles)• Intentional pursuit of problem wolves to keep wolves

away from livestock• If a wolf is captured (inadvertently), ODFW may

relocate it to the nearest wilderness area• Wolf harassment under the permit must be reported to

ODFW within 48 hours”

Predators

• Wolf protections– Permits for lethal control• “Issued if non-lethal methods are deemed ineffective

and livestock depredation has occurred. This permit allows a livestock producer to kill a wolf “caught in the act” of attacking (but not testing or scavenging) livestock”

Predators

• Wolf protections– Lethal control for chronic damage situations• “ODFW and authorized agents may also conduct lethal

removal of wolves after chronic depredations and ineffective non-lethal efforts”• “Take Orders”

Predators

• Wolf protections– Protections continue until ‘Phase I’ is concluded• Oregon Wolf Plan; rules apply until four breeding pairs

for three years• Then delisted; applies separately to Eastern Oregon

and Western Oregon

What next?

Sources“Dealing with Wolves in Northeast Oregon” John Williams, OSU Extension

Service, Wallowa County in cooperation with Oregon Cattlemen’s Association wolf task force. Accessed online at http://wallowavalleyonline.com/wvo/?p=46