‘We’re in the midst of a
wildlife recovery
success story.’
against ODFW’s le-
thal control of wolves
due to confl icts with
livestock. As a result,
the state lost the abil-
JOSH LAUGHLIN,
ity to kill wolves in
relation to livestock
deaths until the matter was resolved.
At the time, legislation regarding wolf
control was vague. Josh Laughlin, cam-
paign director for Cascadia Wildlands, says
that in 2011 before the injunction, the state
could resort to lethal control when a cattle
owner experienced two livestock losses
over an undefi ned amount of time. “Now
with this new agreement, there are clear
thresholds that must be met prior to lethal
control,” Laughlin says. “And under this
new plan, lethal control should be really
rare and a last resort.”
According to ODFW’s website, the new
plan says that lethal control of wolves can
only be used when four incidents of wolf-
related livestock death occur over a con-
secutive six-month period. Also, livestock
producers must show that they are actively
using forms of
non-lethal mitiga-
tion to discour-
age the wolves,
including remov-
C A S CA D I A W I L D L A N D S
ing carcasses and
bone piles from
their fi elds, putting up electric fencing and
being present during times in which cattle
are particularly vulnerable, like birthing.
One wolf, OR.7, also known as Journey
has ventured into western Oregon but not
yet formed a pack.
While this is only an agreement and the
plan still needs to pass legislation, Laugh-
lin says the new rules “have broad support
across the political spectrum,” includ-
ing Gov. John Kitzhaber’s offi ce. Having
specifi c rules in place will help to smooth
confl ict when wolves eventually disperse
from their current habitat in northeastern
Oregon.
“We’re in the midst of a wildlife recov-
ery success story, and with this new agree-
ment in place, the story’s just gotten bet-
ter,” Laughlin says. — Amy Schneider
GAIA MASTROVINCENZO
SCORING HER GOAL
MASTROVINCENZO SHINES
FOR VICTORIOUS AZUL
The Eugene Metro Football Club (EMFC) Azul took on and defeated the Bend Timbers by a
score of 4-1 in front of 700 patrons packed in bleachers above the South Eugene High School
soccer field. In this season-opening game, fans and head coach Jürgen Ruckaberle got their
first peek of Gaia Mastrovincenzo, a touted forward and midfielder from the prestigious Serie
A’s Riviera di Romagna in Italy, who stood out in leading her new team to victory.
Bend’s Kristen Parr benefited from an Azul turnover and a vulnerable, spread out defense
to score in the 10th minute, a goal Ruckaberle attributes to “a combination of errors.”
Azul didn’t make many errors after that gaffe. Taylor Housley scored on an assist from
Taylor Boyer in the 31st minute to notch a 1-1 tie, and following halftime EMFC proved itself
defensively with increased intensity, constant control of possession deep in Bend territory
and three thumped strikes into the net for the final tally, including Mastrovincenzo’s tie-
breaker in the 63rd minute.
The Italian star had a hand in creating other goals, as well, and Ruckaberle was impressed.
He says he thinks she has all of the tools, and he was encouraged by her aggressiveness on
defense, her crisp, on-target passing and her ability to use both feet. She’s a lefty but scored
her goal with her right foot. “It was a beautiful goal,” he says. “She is going to improve through
the season. She is not used to the pace of the game because on turf, the game is faster than
on grass, but the way I see it over two practices now and one game, she already has a running
start. You can play her the ball in any way, and she knows what to do with it.”
Mastrovincenzo isn’t the only one getting acclimated or turning heads. Players coming
over from the UO’s women’s soccer team played well with similarly limited practice time, so
Ruckaberle was right in describing this game as an “experiment” — an ultimately successful
one, at that.
Azul will get a chance to continue to haunt the Timbers, as they travel to Bend for their
next game and stay on the road for two games each in Portland and Seattle.
“If we get some results in those games,” Ruckaberle says, “we can really regroup and
have four home games at the end. If we do that, we’ll have a chance to go to the next round,
which is our goal.” — Nick Poust
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