Opinion
4A
Saturday, June 27, 2020
The Observer
OUR VIEW
Oregon ranchers face tough choice
R
anchers in Ore-
gon’s wolf country
face a dilemma
when their livestock or guard
dog turns up dead or badly
injured — report it to the state
Department of Fish and Wild-
life and wait a day or two for
a response, or ignore it and eat
the cost of the animal.
That’s not much of a
choice, particularly because
wolves have been in Oregon
for 14 years now. That’s
plenty of time for the state’s
wildlife managers to come up
with a better system for deter-
mining how an animal died.
Fewer ranchers are even
bothering to report wolf
attacks on their animals. The
state’s own statistics show
that. Yet, the state insists
only its biologists can do the
inspections.
The problem with that is
the delay in getting a state
biologist to the scene of a dep-
redation. In just a day or two,
scavengers can strip the car-
cass and destroy the evidence.
The state faces two
challenges.
The first: ODFW is under-
staffed. The department has
just hired three people who
will be spread across the
inspect livestock carcasses
and determine a cause of
death.
We think sheriff’s offices
have better things to do than
to investigate animal-on-an-
imal crime scenes.
However, ODFW should
enlist the help of veterinarians
and ranchers themselves when
they are unable to investigate
a predation scene in a timely
manner.
Most ranchers carry smart-
phones and are able to take
photos and video. We suspect
most ranchers in areas where
wolves are present have read
a number of ODFW Livestock
Depredation Investigation
Reports, so they know what
biologists are looking for.
These reports are online on
Photo courtesy of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife/
An Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife wildlife biologist investi- the ODFW website, and make
gates carcass remains and the area around it.
for an interesting reading.
They include the who-
entire state. And once the
one-third of the state where
what-when-where
details of
reality of budget cuts brought the federal Endangered Spe-
an attack on an animal in a
on by the COVID-19 shut-
cies Act does not make
section called “General situa-
downs take hold, the odds of
ranchers put up with wolves
tion and animal information.”
adding more staff — or even
that repeatedly kill livestock,
This includes details, such as
keeping staff — will likely
the state needs to step up its
shrink.
activities. The department can a description of the land on
which the animal was found,
The second: Most depreda- come across as wolf apolo-
the age and size of the animal,
tions take place in the back-
gists instead of managers.
the condition of the body, an
country. Getting there is often
Some sheriff’s offices and
estimate of the date of death
not quick or easy.
veterinarians say they are
and evidence of scavenging
Especially in the eastern
ready, willing and able to
by coyotes or other animals.
Ranchers can provide much
of this information, along
with photos and videos of the
scene.
The section called “Phys-
ical evidence and summary
of findings” includes details
such as animal tracks in the
area and blood trails. Usu-
ally, the carcass of the animal
is skinned and examined
for bite marks. The spacing
between tooth marks indicates
the size and the type of pred-
ator. A rancher or veterinarian
with some training could use
a camera and tape measure
to take photos showing this
information.
As the wolf population con-
tinues to increase in Oregon
— at least 158 are in the
state, mainly in the northeast
corner — ODFW biologists
will need to use all available
resources and technology to
investigate livestock deaths in
a timely manner. They should
be willing to enlist the help of
ranchers and veterinarians if
they are spread too thin.
For ranchers, a lot of
money is at stake in the form
of dead livestock. For the
state’s biologists, their credi-
bility is at stake.
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
MY VOICE
How to handle a crisis
Pastors need to speak up if
those in authority won’t
I
‘ve no doubt Melody
only the four were positive. She
Johnson has had a tough
updated Facebook on Thursday,
week. She is the executive reporting the facility expects
director of Grande Ronde Retire- the rest of its employee test
ment Residence, La Grande,
results as soon as Saturday, and
which has four employees out
the company’s Health Services
after they tested positive for
Director Sheri Volk tested all
COVID-19.
residents on the assisted living
The Observer reported the
side. Those results should be
situation in a
back next week.
Tuesday front
Likewise,
PHIL WRIGHT
page story, some
Northwood
OBSERVER EDITOR
of the latest in our
Investments, the
coverage of the
parent company
pandemic’s dam-
to both Out-
aging local effects.
doors RV and Northwood Manu-
Johnson could have ducked
facturing in La Grande, reported
and ignored our request to talk
this week it had five confirmed
about a difficult situation. We’re
cases of COVID-19 at its Out-
still getting the silent treatment
doors RV facility. Once again,
from the Lighthouse Pentecostal
a local business let the public
Church in Island City that is at
know.
the heart of the county’s out-
Doing the right thing can be
break. But Johnson did the oppo- difficult, but Johnson and North-
site. She spoke with reporter
wood Investments did the right
Ronald Bond on the record, and
thing. That is the kind of out-
there was nothing ambiguous in
reach and transparency that
her statements.
builds trust and good will with
When the test results came,
the community.
she said, Grande Ronde Retire-
They deserve the communi-
ment Residence wasted no
ty’s thanks and praise.
time notifying family mem-
And Johnson in particular is
bers, health authorities and other an example of what to do in a
agencies.
crisis.
A look at the facility’s Face-
She posted on Facebook
book page shows Johnson has
— yet again — on Thursday:
been making regular posts for
“Our commitment to you all
weeks with updates about coro-
throughout this process is to
navirus tests results and the
keep you all updated and be as
steps to mitigate contact.
transparent as possible.”
Johnson on Wednesday
Johnson has demonstrated she
reported Grande Ronde Retire-
backs up her words with actions.
ment Residence received results
That’s a valuable lesson for all
from 30 employees, and still
of us at any time.
I
am saddened by what I see in this com- Church in Island City.
As a believer in Christ and a member of
munity. After repeated, worldwide
pleas on the part of the medical profes- a church in La Grande, I am appalled at the
stubbornness of a body of believers who not
sionals to social distance and wear masks in
only insist on pursuing their beliefs at the
public, now we see the results of the cavalier
peril of the community but choose to interpret
attitudes of many of our citizens, especially
the word of God in a manner
younger ones.
that violates Christ’s words
Having grown up in the
PAMELA
when tempted by Satan,
United Kingdom, I look
MOORE
“Thou shalt not tempt the
with interest at the response
LA GRANDE
Lord thy God.”
and attitude of the different
I am no theologian, but I
countries.
choose to interpret Christ’s message to love
While I understand the United States is
all people and show compassion to those in
built on a culture of individual freedom and
personal rights, I believe many Americans see need, which means paying attention to how
my actions affect other people — in this case,
this as a ticket to do what feels good to them
the most vulnerable in our community.
regardless of the consequences if they feel
I struggle with my attitude toward my
their own rights are violated.
brothers and sisters in Christ at the Light-
Compare this to the U.K. and European
countries that have been more intentional and house Church, and while I commend their
deliberate in ordering their citizens to comply commitment to their beliefs and their faith, I
worry about what kind of witness they are to
with rules, and, as a result, have not seen the
non-believers. Will they listen to anyone else?
upsurge of infection of COVID-19 as cur-
Will they follow the rules of quarantine?
rently being witnessed in the USA.
While some states are finally seeing the
I challenge the pastors in this community
need to take a firmer stand against the virus to collectively hold the pastors of the Light-
by closing their borders, many local and
house Pentecostal Church accountable in the
state authorities are reluctant to enforce
same way as we are commissioned to do on
any commonsense rules, merely “recom-
an individual basis when a church member
mending” behaviors that have proved effec-
goes astray.
tive in restraining the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, I pray for all those affected,
They want to leave it to individual dis-
whether they attend the Lighthouse Church
cretion as to whether these “suggestions”
or not, and trust that God will watch over our
are followed in case they somehow violate
community.
someone’s rights. No matter that people are
About the Author
Pamela Moore has lived in the U.S. for
infected by the hundreds in the community
55 years, the last 12 in La Grande. Now
and possibly will die.
We only have to look at what has happened retired, she volunteers at the Grande
in Union County the last couple of weeks with Ronde Hospital Auxiliary and Next Step
the behavior of the Lighthouse Pentecostal
Pregnancy and Relationship Center.