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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.
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.
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:
- Wolves in Crow Creek area of Wallowa County - On April 25, 2025, ODFW authorized the lethal removal of up to four wolves after three confirmed and one probable depredation events during a one-week period resulting in the death of one calf, one yearling and one adult, and the injury of two yearlings. Individuals from multiple packs have been present in the area where the depredations occurred. Livestock producers have mobilized quickly increasing human presence during all hours, nighttime drone flying, hazing, and moving livestock to more protectable pastures. Limited duration permits have been issued to affected producers for up to two wolves. One wolf was lethally removed by ODFW on April 28, 2025.
Two wolves were removed by ODFW on May 1, 2025. Measures to prevent depredation have continued, but four additional confirmed depredation events (plus one probable) resulting in the deaths of six calves have occurred since the original authorization. On May 1, 2025 a new authorization was issued to remove four wolves from May 1st forward (seven total when considering the three taken under the previous authorization). Limited duration permits to affected producers continue to authorize up to two wolves. Those permits expire May 31, 2025.
Wildlife Services removed four wolves between May 3-8, 2025 as wolves continued to visit the area where wolves have chronically killed or injured livestock since April 21, 2025 and depredated again on May 6, 2025. On May 8, 2025, ODFW added two wolves to the lethal authorization which will allow the continued issuance of limited duration kill permits to producers in case they see wolves in their cows. Agency action has stopped but may restart if additional depredations occur.
- Bear Creek Pack - On April 15, 2025, ODFW authorized the removal of up to two wolves from the Bear Creek Pack. This month, the wolves, who are in chronic depredation status, returned to the area of past conflict and have continued to be in the area despite the use of human presence and non-lethal tools such as visual deterrents, solar radios and motion-activated noisemakers. A significant effort has been made by livestock producers, ODFW, and Wildlife Services to install permanent fencing, fladry, night pen sheep, and remove attractants to protect the livestock that saw ten depredation events during 2024.
On April 20, 2025, one Bear Creek wolf was removed by Wildlife Services.
On May 3, 2025, a second Bear Creek wolf was removed by WS. The two authorized wolves have been removed and the limited duration permit to a livestock producer has been canceled.
- Frazier Mountain Pack - On October 23, 2024, after three confirmed depredations resulted in three dead cows, ODFW authorized lethal removal of two wolves in the Frazier Mountain Pack through a limited duration permit. This permit allows removal by the producer or their agent on the privately-owned or public pastures where they graze their livestock. The livestock producer has worked unsuccessfully to reduce depredation by changing pastures and providing human presence early in the morning almost daily. The limited duration permit is valid until December 31, 2024, or until the wolves are removed, whichever comes first.
When wolves from the Frazier Mountain Pack returned to the area of previous depredations, ODFW hazed them from the air. Wolves returned to the area of previous depredation again on November 1, at which time ODFW killed two wolves and hazed the other wolves to change their behavior and reduce depredation. After a subsequent livestock depredation, the department authorized trapping in the area.
On November 26, 2024, ODFW amended the authorization to include up to six additional wolves of the Frazier Mountain pack. Livestock producers continue to implement non-lethal measures including daily and nightly checks of livestock. With this amended authorization, the limited duration permits issued to producers continues to be valid until December 31, 2024, or until the wolves are removed, whichever comes first.
One wolf was removed by Wildlife Services on December 11, 2024. Due to additional depredation, the Frazier Mountain limited duration permits were extended until January 31, 2025. On January 12, one wolf was removed by ODFW and another wolf was removed by Wildlife Services on January 24. The Frazier Mountain Pack limited duration permits were extended until February 28, 2025. The Frazier Mountain limited duration permits were extended until March 31, 2025.
The Frazier Mountain limited duration permits expired on March 31, 2025. The department may still remove remaining Frazier Mountain wolves if any are located in the AKWA.
Table of previous lethal removal authorizations (pdf) |
