FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Outdoor Rec / Local
On wolves and beef ...
and the
United States
Department
of Agricul-
ture (USDA)
Agricultural
Research
Service.
An OSU
Beef Cattle
Sciences
Special
Research
Report,
published on
THE OUTDOOR COLUMN
June 5, 2013,
titled “Impact
By Todd Arriola
of Previous
During the last Baker
Exposure
County Wolf Depredation
To Wolves On Tempera-
Compensation Committee
ment And Physiological
meeting, on Wednesday,
Responses Of Beef Cattle
February 8, 2017, Richland Following A Simulated
livestock producer Chad
Wolf Encounter,” is one
Del Curto claimed the loss
of the related studies, to
of eleven Angus cows, and the economic losses due to
forty-one Angus calves,
the presence of wolves in
from possible depredation.
northeast Oregon.
His application, represent-
The study, fi nancially
ing the largest claimed loss supported by the Oregon
for 2016, was approved by
Beef Council and conduct-
the committee to be sub-
ed at EOARC, involved
mitted for compensation.
one hundred multiparous,
Del Curto brought up
pregnant, non-lactating
a valid point later, post-
crossbreed beef cows;
meeting to this reporter,
fi fty from EOARC, a herd
which he said is often
(dubbed “CON”) that was
missed: the psychological,
unfamiliar with wolves,
as well as the physiological and fi fty from a commer-
effects of wolf depredation cial operation in Council,
on livestock.
Idaho, a herd (dubbed
Aside from the claimed
“WLF”) that had experi-
loss from physical wolf
enced multiple, confi rmed
depredation, which com-
wolf depredation scenarios.
manded a lengthy discus-
The wolf simulation
sion during the meeting,
included cotton plugs,
Del Curto referenced a
saturated with wolf urine,
study—one of several, he
and attached to the drylot
said—conducted by the
fence; the continuous re-
Burns-based Eastern Or-
production of wolf howls;
egon Agricultural Research and the walking of trained
Center (EOARC), a coop-
dogs, outside the drylot
erative between Oregon
perimeter fence. Evalua-
State University (OSU)
tions of the cattle during
the study included tem-
perament (chute score, exit
velocity, and temperament
score), blood samples, and
body temperature.
During the study, one
group of ten CON cows
was placed in a drylot
pen, adjacent to a similar
pen, separated by a fence,
with ten WLF cows, and
upon hearing the simulated
wolf howls, which were
recorded from Wallowa
County area wolves, the
WLF cows immediately
bunched up in the farthest
corner of the pen, staying
there during the whole
process, while the CON
cows remained dispersed
(the report included photos
indicating that behavior).
Following the simulated
wolf encounter, accord-
ing to the report, the
WLF cows became more
excitable, and there was
an increase in their plasma
cortisol and body tempera-
ture, however, this effect
was not seen in the CON
cows (a small increase
in the CON cows’s body
temperature was attributed
to handling and physical
activity during the pro-
cess).
According to the report,
“To our knowledge, no
other research has evaluat-
ed temperament and physi-
ological stress parameters
in beef cows previously
exposed or not to wolves,
and subjected to a simulat-
ed or actual wolf encoun-
ter...fear of predation and
its behavioral and physi-
ological consequences are
based on the anticipatory
memory of the attack...”
and cows that haven’t been
exposed to wolf preda-
tion may not experience a
fear-related stress response
when interacting for the
fi rst time, since there aren’t
adverse memories of wolf
predation to reference.
However, the behavior
and responses detected in
the WLF cows, according
to the report, “...are known
to impair performance,
reproductive, and health
parameters in cattle. These
results support the assump-
tion that the impacts of
wolf presence and preda-
tion on beef cattle systems
are not limited to cattle
death and injuries, but
may also extend to overall
productivity and welfare of
the herd.”
According to the report,
more research is warrant-
ed, in order to evaluate the
productive and economic
losses to beef cattle opera-
tions, due to wolf preda-
tion.
The report concluded
that, “...the simulated
wolf encounter increased
excitability and fear-
related physiological stress
responses in cows previ-
ously exposed to wolves,
but not in cows unfamiliar
with this predator. There-
fore, the presence of wolf
packs near cattle herds
may negatively impact
beef production systems
via predatory activities
and subsequent death
and injury of animals, as
well as by inducing stress
responses known to impair
cattle productivity and
welfare when packs are in
close proximity to previ-
ously predated herds.”
Baker County legislative
hotlines scheduled
Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-On-
tario) and Sen. Ted Ferrioli
(R-John Day) will hold
a “Legislative Hotline”
(video conference) call
once per month during the
2017 Legislative Session.
These appearances, host-
ed by the Baker County
Chamber of Commerce,
provide Baker County
residents an opportunity
to discuss with the Rep-
resentative and Senator
legislative events and other
statewide and local issues
of interest.
Those interested should
be at the Baker County
OSU Extension Offi ce’s
media room (2600 East St.,
Baker City) at 7:00 a.m.
(pacifi c time) on the fol-
lowing dates:
• March 7th at 7:00 a.m.
(PST)
• April 4th at 7:00 a.m.
(PST)
• May 2nd at 7:00 a.m.
(PST)
• June 6th at 7:00 a.m.
(PST)
“These meetings will
provide the opportunity
to review what is happen-
ing in Salem with Baker
County residents. I hope
that those who follow the
Oregon Legislature will
join the two of us talk
about proposed bills and
other legislative actions.
We want to know what you
think and what you believe
should be happening in
the Legislature,” said Rep.
Bentz.
Ferrioli invites
all to Cherry
Festival
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Senate Republican
Leader Ted Ferrioli, of
John Day, today invited
members of the Legislature
and all Oregonians to the
38th Annual Northwest
Cherry Festival.
The invitation comes on
the heels of the passage
of Senate Bill 146, which
"designates the third Satur-
day in March of each year
as Cherry Blossom Day."
Ferrioli said, "The 38th
Northwest Cherry Festival
is one of Oregon's great
community celebrations.
It features the crowning of
King Bing, Queen Anne
and Royal Anne and Andy,
a grand parade, live music,
cruise-in and activities for
the whole family.
“This year the Northwest
Cherry Festival will take
place from April 21st to
23rd in the Dalles, under
clear and sunny skies.
Senate Bill 146 is a great
opportunity to cross-
publicize Salem's beauti-
ful ornamental cherries
and the Northwest Cherry
Festival."
Three charged
in game
violations
After receiving information of illegal hunting activity
occurring in NE Oregon, OSP launched an investigation
into the unlawful taking of several trophy class bull elk
and mule deer.
The investigation revealed that in September, 2016
Travis Mooden-Baugh of Elgin, Oregon and a juvenile
had killed a trophy class bull in the Wenaha Unit without
a valid tag. The bull is suspected to have been killed with
a rifl e during the 2016 archery controlled hunt season.
The investigation resulted in multiple search warrants
being executed and the collection and analysis of DNA
evidence.
Multiple sets of deer antlers, a black bear, a trophy class
set of Elk antlers, drug paraphernalia, cell phones, and
other items were seized.
On December 19, 2016 Travis Mooden-Baugh was
charged with Unlawful Possession of a Game Mammal,
Aiding in a Game Violation, and Unlawful Possession
of Methamphetamine. The juvenile was charged with
Unlawful Take of a Game Mammal, Unlawful Possession
of a Game Mammal, and Failing to Check-in Bear with
ODFW.
After analyzing the seized items another investigation
ensued resulting in the discovery of a trophy sized mule
deer that was shot on or about November 3, 2016. In-
vestigation revealed the buck was killed in the Catherine
Creek Unit by Samuel Neitch of Elgin, Oregon without
having a valid mule deer tag.
On January 28th, 2017 Samuel Neitch was charged
with Unlawful Take/Possession of a Game Mammal and
Tampering with Physical Evidence.
This is the third case in as many months investigated
by OSP in which trophy class animals have been unlaw-
fully killed in Union County. One of which the suspect,
Nathan Crough Elgin, Oregon, is still at large. A warrant
has been issued by the Union County District Attorney's
offi ce for his arrest. Anyone with information on the
whereabouts of Nathan Crouch is asked to contact OSP
Senior Trooper Marcus McDowell at 1-541-531-5906 or
Email at marcus.mcdowell@state.or.us). Information may
be kept anonymous.
Hard winter
means more
wildlife on road
Eastern and central Oregon’s harsh winter season has
not only resulted in more snow and ice on the roadway,
but it has also contributed to numerous vehicle-wildlife
collisions. Exact fi gures are not available at this time,
but both the Oregon Department of Transportation and
the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife indicate the
number of deer and other wildlife on and near roadways
is higher than usual.
“Deeper snow in the mountains brings more animals
further down into valley areas,” said Randy Lewis,
ODFW Assistant District Wildlife biologist. “They are
looking for the easiest path that will use the least amount
of energy as they search for food.”
The path of least resistance may include sections of
highways or other transportation routes. In some cases
high snow berms along road shoulders have created cor-
riders where animals get trapped.
Some travelers who express concern about wildlife on
the roadway often request more wildlife crossing signs.
ODOT says that wildlife warning signs are not very ef-
fective at reducing the number of crashes.
“We have numerous wildlife warning signs, includ-
ing two new signs with fl ashing lights that the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife installed last year along
U.S. 20 between Vale and Juntura,” said ODOT District
14 Assistant Manager Jeff Berry.
Unfortunately, motorists have a tendency to become
complacent and ignore signs if there are too many of
them, or forget about them within a minute or two, espe-
cially if they don’t see an associated danger near the sign.
Both ODOT and ODFW agree that the key to avoiding
a collision with deer, elk or other critters is to stay alert
and be prepared, particularly during early morning and
late afternoon.
If you not expecting wildlife on the roadway, you
should. They can be just about anywhere in eastern and
central Oregon.
Deer typically travel in groups so if you see one slow
down and watch out for others. Don’t expect them to
do the logical thing, either. Too often deer crossing the
highway will unexpectedly reverse direction when they
reach the opposite site, heading straight into your moving
vehicle.
“Think about what action you would need to take if a
deer or elk suddenly bolted across your path,” said Berry.
Special wildlife crossing
In some cases grade-separated wildlife crossings have
been constructed to channel animals over or under busy
highways, typically using large culverts or bridge-like
structures.
In eastern Oregon there are few sites that meet the crite-
ria for a dedicated, grade-separated wildlife crossing. At
this time there are no plans to build any in the area.
For more information about ODOT’s wildlife cross-
ing program, plus links to videos and related driving tips
https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION4/Pages/
WildlifeCrossings.aspx.