Camera captures wolves killing lambs in Oregon

[Common Tator]

GRANTS PASS — A motion-detector camera has photographed two wolves killing lambs on a ranch in Eastern Oregon — the first documented wolf attack on livestock in Oregon since they started moving into the state in 1999.

Baker City-area sheep rancher Curt Jacobs said Wednesday his family — third generation sheep ranchers — had been moving ewes and lambs from the ranch compound, where they had been brought in for lambing, out to pasture last week.


http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2009/0...ambs-in-oregon

I will try to cross post this int he sheep forum.

Oregon folks listen up!

[LaManchaPaul]

The picture looks like the wolves are approaching a carcass to scavenge if possible, rather than one that they have just killed. Where is the motion activated photo just before this one where they are approaching?

Also, the slaughter writeup on the link, sounds like a neighborhood dog pack rather than hunting wolves.
I'm not an expert or wolf lover, just a naturalist. This doesn't look or sound natural for a hunting wolf.

Paul

[dbarjacres]

I agree with Lamancha Paul. The wolves look to be cautiously approacing the dead lambs, not tearing into their prize kill, which is what I'd belive them to do if they hunted and killed the lambs.

[Common Tator]

The article is pretty clear. "Monday morning, Jacobs, 52, found the wolves had come back and killed more lambs. One of the cameras captured a photo of two wolves looking right at it, with dead lambs at their feet." The only reference to dogs I found was that the rancher intended to get guard dogs. Did you find an article other than the link?

[Goat Servant]

Wow. I didnt know wolves killed for sport.

[DQ]

"Wolf coordinator Russ Morgan mounted four motion-detector cameras on fence posts in hopes of catching the wolves walking by and looking in. Some carcasses were put out to attract the wolves."

wonder if that pic is showing the carcasses put out to attract them they look too timid to have killed those themselves. hmmmmm wait a minute...they put carcasses out to attract them? seems to me the thing to do would be to simply put out the cameras...duh if you put out dead animals, things..including wolves...are going to come by and eat them that is not proof of anything. wonder if you could put shock collars on them and train them not to eat domestic stock....they are already catching them to radio collar them and baiting them anyway...why not? bait them and have a shock collar that gives a serious jolt when it approaches the live bait.

[Common Tator]

For those who don't believe in following links to learn the whole story, it says "Monday morning, Jacobs, 52, found the wolves had come back and killed more lambs."

But you are starting to sound like you won't believe it until Your animals are killed.

[Beef11]

Oregon has for years been denying they had Wolves officially. The Government officials said they had 0 just alittle while ago. Idaho did the same thing until it became very obvious they had wolves. Oregon was without moose until 3 or 4 years ago. Now they have a nice little herd in the northeast part of the state.

[LaManchaPaul]

Originally Posted by Common Tator

For those who don't believe in following links to learn the whole story, it says "Monday morning, Jacobs, 52, found the wolves had come back and killed more lambs."

But you are starting to sound like you won't believe it until Your animals are killed.

Or the dog pack that had previously killed the animals - came back.

Sorry Tator, but the article is so poorly written that it leaves a zillion questions. The only "proof" is a MOTION-sensitive PICTURE of wolves at a distance from their "kill". Why not an actual kill picture as proof? My first thought is that it doesn't exist because the lamb was dead when the wolves arrived.

The lamb was used as bait for a percieved problem. The arrival of a wolf to a carcass is not proof of a wolf kill. Sorry, nothing in that article is logical.

We all have dangers of dog packs, and some of us coyotes. Educated goat owners aren't 'thinking' of getting protection dogs, we get them before the loss. If Mr. Jacobs knew there were wolves around, LDG's would have been appropriate before this event. It feels like a hoax.
Paul

[Tallabred]

The rancher had 23 lambs killed by wolves. To be compensated he had to have proof. He had pictures of the tracks. The group compensating him set out the cameras with the dead lambs to get photos. It would be almost impossible for a night camera to get a picture of the wolves in the act - that was not the purpose of the camera. Normally they put cameras up to verify that it was wolves that are in the area and to find out how many wolves they are dealing with.

[starjj]

The lambs look like they have been laid out as bait. It would seem they would be more mangled and bloody if it was a wolf kill JMO

[Pops2]

as a matter of fact the DNR in alaska has documented numerous occassions of wolves going on killing sprees of moose and caribou w/o consuming a single one. wolves like any canine will sometimes just kill critters for the sake of killing. most hunting dogs are this way fortunately we take up the slack and eat from the kills.
it is standard practice to leave carcasses out where they were killed when dealing w/ canines. ALL canines will go back to the kill site even when all that is left is the bleached bones and some fur. unless you clean it up then they quit visiting.
make all the excuses you want but wolves are simply predators and unless they learn to avoid people and their animals by seeing a few packmates die, they have no qualms about killing them.

[Asia-Pacific]

Some years back the US Wildlife came to Canada with an order for live trapped wolves to restock Yellowstone.Canada shipped live wolves to the US and the US I believe shipped to Canada some wild turkeys.Canada only within I think the last 15 years realized a group on wolves living in southern Ontario was different somwhow,maybe coat colouring.There was some DNA testing done and it was found to be wolves related to the southern USA around Florida and such.This breed of wolf was/is somewhat scarse,maybe some type of red wolf,do not quote me tho.I am sure an order must have been placed for some to be restocked back into the southern states.How did the wolves get into Canada in the first place?They migrated up,would be the same with the wolves released into Yellowstone,at some point they start to fan out and migrate.I agree there are cases of wolves killing for the sake of killing.

[QoTL]

I love how the wolves carefully laid the lambs in a row....



hmmm.



I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I'm just saying this particular photo is not proof that it happened on that particular ranch that particular day.


Wolves are hunters. Ranchers and wolves will run into problems. But when the moles in my yard get an occasional flower bulb, I don't decide to condemn the entire species to extinction.

Anyway, just my .02

[kreddish]

I am going and checking my pin... not for wolfes, but cayotees. To be sure noone lines my heard in a row.

[Pops2]

Asia-pacific
that is the algonquin red wolf. down here in the SE US we have the eastern red. ours were stocked from zoo breeding programs back in the 70s. they were stocked in various wilderness areas from FL to NC.

[desertshi]

Originally Posted by Asia-Pacific

Some years back the US Wildlife came to Canada with an order for live trapped wolves to restock Yellowstone.Canada shipped live wolves to the US and the US I believe shipped to Canada some wild turkeys.Canada only within I think the last 15 years realized a group on wolves living in southern Ontario was different somwhow,maybe coat colouring.There was some DNA testing done and it was found to be wolves related to the southern USA around Florida and such.This breed of wolf was/is somewhat scarse,maybe some type of red wolf,do not quote me tho.I am sure an order must have been placed for some to be restocked back into the southern states.How did the wolves get into Canada in the first place?They migrated up,would be the same with the wolves released into Yellowstone,at some point they start to fan out and migrate.I agree there are cases of wolves killing for the sake of killing.

I am originally from Jackson, WY which is right on the outskirts of Yellowstone. The wolves are in the news ALL the time there. Yes, it is absolutely true that the wolves fanned out. They radio collared all of the wolves originally released in '99 and have monitered them diligently for the past 10 years. As the numbers increased, they broke out and formed new packs and fanned out.

Originally Posted by QoTL

I love how the wolves carefully laid the lambs in a row....



hmmm.



I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I'm just saying this particular photo is not proof that it happened on that particular ranch that particular day.


Wolves are hunters. Ranchers and wolves will run into problems. But when the moles in my yard get an occasional flower bulb, I don't decide to condemn the entire species to extinction.

Anyway, just my .02

Love it!! LOL. And yes...ranchers and wolves are in an eternal struggle!! I agree that it doesn't mean that they should condemn them to extinction either. People ignore signs in Yellowstone saying "do not approach the wildlife" and some couple of people get mauled every season by approaching bison or moose. Farmers lose livestock, be it to wolves, coyotes, or wild dogs if they don't get something to protect them...LGD...it's just natural!!

Originally Posted by kreddish

I am going and checking my pin... not for wolfes, but cayotees. To be sure noone lines my heard in a row.

LOLOLOL!!!

[Asia-Pacific]

Pops2
the Algonquin red wof is not native to Canada.As I rememeber the story,DNA proved they are related to the American southern red wof,maybe a sub type.Anyway the USA expressed an interest in them for relocating also.Proves wolves can travel long long distances.

[Jcran]

Great thread. Today on "CALLING ALL PETS", a radio show I occasionally listen to, there was a piece on the practice of breeding hybrid wolf/dogs. There is so much variation in the traits passed on by such hybrids, that behavior, prey drive, etc. is not calculable. One of the issues was those that go feral in many areas and the devastation they cause because many of them have a "less anxious" response to humans, thus emboldening them to come closer to human habitation. One place mentioned was Europe, of all places. I have a FAR DEEPER concern with irresponsible breeding/care/management of domestic dogs versus wolf predation. We don't have wolves around here, but our property butts right up against private timberlands. We get "state's kitties" AKA mountain lions walking right down our old railroad grade. They tend to steer clear but I've had issues with feral pitbulls and loose dogs running our livestock.