East Wolf Management Zone / Phase III / Federally Delisted

Click on a zone for area-specific information.

Report wolf sightings online or call your nearest field office

Wolves in this area of Oregon (east of Hwys 395-78-95) are federally and state delisted.  ODFW is the lead management agency and manages wolves under Phase III of the Wolf Plan and Oregon Administrative Rule OAR 635-110-0030.

Harassment and Take of Wolves in Oregon (pdf)
Requesting Lethal Removal of Wolves in Eastern Oregon – What does a livestock producer need to do? (pdf)

Areas of Known Wolf Activity
Harassment of Wolves
Caught-In-Act Lethal Take
ODFW Lethal Take

Areas of Known Wolf Activity (AKWA)

What is an “Area of Known Wolf Activity” and when/how is it designated?

An Area of Known Wolf Activity (AKWA) is an area which is designated by ODFW showing where resident wolves and/or packs have become established. AKWA designation is based on actual wolf data or information which is verified by ODFW, and not reports or other hearsay. AKWAs are only designated in situations of repeated wolf use over a period of time. For example, a single photo or a set of tracks showing that a wolf may be traveling through an area would not be designated an AKWA.

What does an AKWA mean to a livestock producer?

• ODFW coordinates with livestock producers within designated AKWA’s to discuss topics such as the Oregon Wolf Plan, current wolf management and conservation, how to recognize and report wolf activity, and appropriate non-lethal measures.
  
  
• Livestock producers within AKWA’s are encouraged to access the information associated with known wolves or packs.

Producers are encouraged to implement non-lethal measures which are designed to minimize conflicts between wolves and livestock.

Harassment of Wolves

Livestock producers, on land they own or lawfully occupy, can haze or scare (by making loud noises for example) a wolf or wolves without a permit if:

• The wolf is in close proximity to livestock or in the act of wolf-livestock conflict (testing, chasing), and
  
  
• The actions do not harm or injure the wolf, and

In addition, on private land, injurious harassment of wolves (e.g. haze wolves in ways that could cause injury but not kill – this includes pursuit) conducted for the purpose of minimizing conflict is allowed without a permit by producers on private land they own or lawfully occupy when livestock are present. In this situation, there can be no identified circumstance that attracts wolf-livestock conflict.

On public land, if depredation or other wolf-livestock conflict occurs, ODFW can permit livestock producers to injuriously harass wolves (e.g. haze wolves in ways that could cause injury but not kill) on public land under their valid grazing allotment. Hazing permits will not be issued if there are identified circumstances which attract wolf-livestock conflict.

Any type of harassment should be reported to ODFW within 48 hrs.

Caught-In-Act Lethal Take

Within this zone, livestock producers or their agent may shoot a wolf caught in the act of biting, wounding, killing, or chasing livestock or working dogs on land they own or lawfully occupy, without a permit, under the following circumstances:

• They have not baited or taken actions to attract wolves.
• They must preserve the scene, and not remove or disturb the dead wolf.
• The shooting is reported to ODFW within 24 hours.

A livestock producer can allow an agent to shoot a wolf if written authorization procedures are followed. View the entire rule.

Chronic Depredation Lethal Take

In situations of chronic livestock depredation, lethal take may be authorized by ODFW in certain circumstances under Oregon Administrative Rule OAR 635-110-0030. ODFW may authorize its personnel, authorized agents, or Wildlife Services, to use lethal force on wolves or ODFW may issue limited duration permits to livestock producers to use lethal force on land they own or lawfully occupy. The following are conditions that must be met prior to ODFW authorizing lethal control:

• ODFW confirms at least two incidents of depredation by wolves on livestock in the area within a consecutive nine-month period,
• Efforts to prevent or solve the situation through non-lethal means which are appropriate for the situation are documented by the livestock producer, grazing permittee, or representative,
• There is no identified circumstance which attracts wolf-livestock conflict, and
• There is no evidence of non-compliance with applicable laws and the conditions of any harassment or take permits.

Lethal removal is not automatic once those conditions are met. ODFW will assess several factors surrounding the depredation situation such as:

• ODFW determines that wolves are a significant risk to livestock present in the area.
• The frequency, locations, and severity of the depredation and the extent that appropriate non-lethals for the situation have been implemented.
• The situation of wolf depredation is likely to remain chronic despite the use of additional non-lethal conflict deterrence measures.
• The wolf or wolves identified for removal are those ODFW believes to be associated with the depredations, the removal of which ODFW believes will decrease the risk of chronic depredation.

Current lethal removal authorizations:

• Arbuckle Pack – On June 8, 2026, ODFW authorized the removal of 6 wolves (up to and including full pack removal) due to continued and frequent depredation in the area. In the last 9-months, there have been 10 confirmed or probable depredation events resulting in the death/injury of 13 cattle and 1 sheep. There have been 14 confirmed or probable depredations totaling 22 animals killed or injured in the last 12 months. Producers in the area have increased human presence, removed attractants, monitored/moved the herd in response to pack movements and depredation events, deployed fox lights and noise makers, have livestock guardian dogs, and implemented non-injurious hazing techniques. WS also assisted with range riding. Previously, on March 7, 2026, ODFW authorized the removal of four wolves from the Arbuckle pack in response to 9 confirmed or probable depredations over the preceding 9-months. One wolf was removed on 3/18/2026.
  
  
• Wenaha Pack – On May 26, 2026, ODFW authorized lethal removal of Wenaha Pack wolves in response to five confirmed and two probable depredation events resulting in the deaths of 1 livestock guardian dog, 2 calves, 1 adult cow and injuries to 2 livestock guardian dogs and 1 ewe. Wenaha wolves have been chronically depredating since the fall of 2025, and no lethal removal occurred with the 11/26/2025 authorization. Producers in the area have livestock guardian dogs, installed fladry, monitored the area using trail cameras, employed virtual fencing, and have range riders. Additionally, producers have worked with NGOs and WS on other preventative measures such as RAG boxes, cannons, and foxlights. ODFW authorized the lethal removal of up to 5 wolves. One wolf was removed on 6/5/2026.
  
  
• Black Pines Pack – On March 10, 2026, ODFW authorized the removal of three wolves (up to and including removal of the pack) to address chronic depredation. Despite the removal of four wolves from this pack via a previous lethal removal authorized on 1/13/2026, depredations continued. Following those previous removals, wolves were on the valley floor 13 of 18 nights prior to depredating on 03/09/2026. Producers continued to deploy preventative measures. One additional wolf was removed on 4/7/2026 and the breeding female was taken via caught-in-the-act on 05/25/2026.
  
  
• Crow Creek area of Wallowa County – On Feb. 19, 2026, ODFW authorized lethal removal of four wolves in the Crow Creek area in response to chronic depredation on sheep (two events resulting in injuries to five and deaths of two rams). Livestock will be in this area throughout the remainder of the grazing season. Livestock producers have implemented preventative measures to reduce depredation in the area, such as, daily checks while feeding, increased human presence, RAGbox deployment, and moving sheep out of the area. Limited duration permits have been distributed associated with this depredating pack. One wolf was removed on 3/15/2026.
  
  
• Grouse Flats Pack – On Feb. 12, 2026, ODFW authorized the removal of 6 wolves (up to and including the removal of the pack) to address chronic depredation. Since spring of 2025, there have been six confirmed depredations resulting in 2 dead calves, 2 dead heifers, and 2 injured adult cows. Producers in the area are removing carcasses, moving cattle into smaller pastures, deploying trail cameras, range riding, and have livestock guardian dogs. Limited duration permits have been distributed associated with this depredating pack.
  
  

Table of previous lethal removal authorizations (pdf)