GRANTS PASS, Ore. — One of Oregon’s wolf packs is one livestock attack away from becoming the first to come under a potential kill order under the state’s unique rules.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said Wednesday the Umatilla Pack west of Pendleton has been confirmed responsible for killing a sheep last week in a private pasture. Two other attacks occurred in June.
The state cannot kill a wolf unless three conditions are met: There’s hard evidence the pack is responsible for four livestock attacks over the past six months, the rancher has taken non-lethal steps to protect his livestock, and wolf attacks are likely to continue even with more non-lethal protections.
The rules were adopted last year as the result of a lawsuit by conservation groups.
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