Issue #5 – Predator Control

1. Issue #5 – Predator Control Adv Animal Science Principles of Industry Sutherlin AST

2. 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

3. Sheep and Predators  PredatorPercent 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

4. Predator Control • Methods • Lethal • Non-lethal

5. Predator Control • Non-Lethal • Translocation • Guard Dogs, Llamas, and Donkeys • Fencing • Frightening Devices • Penning

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. Predators • Cougars • Huge increase in Oregon’s cougar population in the past 15 years • Cannot be hunted with dogs EXCEPT in damage circumstances

10. 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

14. Predators • Wolf Predations • Confirmed kills on cattle in Eastern Oregon • Take orders given for some wolves • Currently two take orders being held in court

15. 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)

16. US 395

17. 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

18. 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”

19. 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”

20. 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”

21. 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

22. What next?

24. 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