Oregon Eyes Plan For Managing Wolves To Protect Livestock

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) — Oregon officials are proposing a new framework for managing wolves that prey on livestock. The East Oregonian reported that a possible deal emerged Tuesday that involves ranchers making clearly defined efforts to protect livestock and ward off wolves with non-lethal deterrents. If ranchers follow those rules and still lose livestock to wolves, and the wolves meet the state’s definition of “chronic depredation,” ranchers can ask that the wolves be killed. Ranchers, conservation groups and state officials have been working with a mediator to find a solution. “There’s got to be something for everybody on the table,” said Kevin Blakely, deputy administrator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Division.