Oregon
Wolf hate on the rise in the West, with ranchers often in driver's seat – Oregon Capital Chronicle
The wolf issue continues to heat up across the West, with states like Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and now Colorado, all getting a chance to show their preferred flavor of wolf management.
Here in “progressive” Oregon, wolves are continuously being slaughtered by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, often with the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services. This state-sponsored killing (plus private poaching) has resulted in suppressed wolf numbers and a hampered recovery effort.
Oregon finished 2022 with only an estimated three individuals added to the state’s meager wolf population on top of the 2021 census. As of the end of 2022, Oregon stands at a minimum count of 178 individual wolves. For context, a study by Dr. Bill Ripple of Oregon State University estimated that Oregon can naturally support a population of around 1,500 individuals.
Wolf-hate has been on the rise across the West. Let’s consider Idaho where the climate has been extremely hostile particularly since 2011 when wolves were removed from the endangered species list and returned to state management. Beginning that year, and following every year since, first USDA Wildlife Services and then the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has killed wolves to boost elk numbers – even while Idaho’s department has been culling elk for crop depredations and sport harvests are at record highs. Escalating in 2021, Idaho passed a law allowing the killing of up to 90% of the state’s wolves, enabling hunters to use methods like night-vision equipment and snowmobiles. The state’s Wolf Depredation Control Board has funneled bounty payments to private trappers who kill wolves and recently approved paying a private contractor to gun down wolves from the air. In just three years, since 2021 with expanded hunting and trapping seasons, about 1,000 wolves have been killed in the state.
Like in Idaho, Oregon ranchers are in the driver’s seat when it comes to wolf management in the state, despite claims to the contrary. Disproportionate livestock industry influence over ODFW in Salem is too obvious to ignore, from the overzealous issuance of wolf kill permits to expanding mismanaged wolf-livestock compensation funds that make questionable payments to ranchers. A current effort underway seeks to compensate ranchers for “probable” livestock losses at 700% of the value per head. This would only incentivize false reporting.
Forest Service land in Oregon is the best available habitat we have to properly recover wolves in the state. There are only 285 livestock permittees who run cattle on U.S. Forest Service land on 411 allotments spanning 7,290,140 acres. This group represents just .00007% of Oregon’s population, but their private businesses impact an area equaling four Yellowstone National Parks. If not for these few ecologically harmful livestock operations, wolves would actually have a chance at recovery. As an example. livestock displace wolves’ natural prey (elk and deer) and eat their forage; forcing them onto private lands where the wolves follow. Such a small constituency cannot be allowed to dictate what happens to our public wildlife and management of our public lands when the majority of Oregonians want wolves to be recovered.
On December 14, the state Wildlife Commission opted not to “open up” the Wolf and Conservation Management Plan to revision in the spirit of “working together,” and instead, voiced their desire to make the current plan somehow current through “adaptive management.” In doing so, the Department is tossing aside a growing body of science that suggests lethal management is counterproductive when the goal is to maintain viable wolf populations and protect livestock. In short, more wolves killed destabilizes packs leading to more livestock conflicts. The failure to update the Wolf Plan with the latest science sends the message loud and clear that cows and sheep, not native wildlife, still rule the roost at Fish and Game.
In order to achieve natural carrying capacities for wolves, the state government of Oregon must first reach social carrying capacity. Reforms are desperately needed at the federal and state level. For instance, the U.S. Forest Service must begin properly managing habitat and state Fish and Wildlife must stop killing wolves because it is scientifically indefensible. As long as livestock interests control the state wildlife commission, change will not come soon enough.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Both lanes of OR-213 were reopened Wednesday night after a crash caused a closure earlier in the evening near Mulino.
Oregon Department of Transportation announced the reopening at 10 p.m. after initially announcing the closure at 6 p.m.
The crash happened one mile north of Mulino at Alder Creek Ln, near milepost 10, ODOT said.
More information can be found on ODOT’s TripCheck site.
CLACKAMAS COUNTY Ore. (KPTV) – U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who recently was nominated by president-elect Donald Trump to serve as his labor secretary, said she got a pipe bomb threat at her Oregon home on Tuesday night.
Chavez-DeRemer wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office responded to the threat and added that she and her family are safe.
“We deeply appreciate their dedication to protecting our community, especially as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches,” said Chavez-DeRemer. “This kind of violence harms not just the intended targets, but entire communities.”
Chavez-DeRemer was one of several Trump cabinet appointees who have reportedly received threats this week, according to a statement from the Trump team.
“These attacks ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting,’” the statement said, referring to a false threat specifically intended to attract a SWAT team response. “In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted.”
Chavez-DeRemer was nominated by Trump last Friday to fill the role of labor secretary.
The FBI and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that they responded to a threat.
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The No.1 Oregon Ducks take on rival Washington Huskies Saturday evening at Autzen Stadium. Ducks cornerback Jabbar Muhammad will be taking on his former team for the first time since transferring this past offseason.
What did he have to say about the Oregon-Washington rivalry?
Jabbar Muhammad: “It’s a Really Fierce Rivalry”
Defensive back Jabbar Muhammad has been in his fair share of big rivalry games throughout his career. Prior to joining Oregon this season, Muhammad had spent three seasons at Oklahoma State and last season at Washington. He has played in the Bedlam rivalry game between Oklahoma-Oklahoma State and also was on the other side of the Washington-Oregon rivalry a season ago.
He was asked about what it has been like on each side of the Washington-Oregon rivalry.
“It’s a really fierce rivalry. Obviously, the fans don’t really get along too well,” Muhammad said. “Me coming from the south, I didn’t know it was that crazy. I’m used to Texas-OU and Auburn-Bama. This is up there with those rivalries. Just to be a part of it is pretty cool.”
Muhammad recalled one of the craziest experiences he’s had in a rivalry game before, and cited “Bedlam” when he was with Oklahoma State.
“I remember getting egged on the bus,” Muhammad said. “Like I said, this (UW-UO rivalry) is up there with it.”
Even with the added juice of a rivalry game, the approach for the Ducks will be the same as any other game.
“It’s just another game honestly. Ready to go out there and compete with my bros,” Muhammad said. “We just need to be us.”
Jabbar Muhammad Previews Washington Offense
The Washington Huskies passing attack is led by quarterback Will Rogers and wide receivers Denzel Boston and Giles Jackson.
This is what Jabbar Muhammad had to say about Denzel Boston.
“He’s (Boston) really good in intermediate game, the quick game, and the deep game,” Muhammad said. “He’s a really complete wide receiver so I’m looking forward to go against him Saturday,”
Here’s what he said about Giles Jackson.
“Agile. Really quick in the slot. Really good with yards after the catch so going to have to do a good job trying to contain him,” Muhammad said.
As for the quarterback position, the Huskies are led by Will Rogers. Backup Demond Williams Jr. is also utilized at times as a dual threat option.
“(Rogers) is a really good pocket passer. Doesn’t really do any running like No. 2 (Williams Jr.), but he has a complete game,” Muhammad said. “No. 2 (Williams Jr.) is more of a dual threat. Can kill you with his legs and throw the ball too. Going to have to do a good job trying to cage up those too.”
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