Oregon’s wolf population saw a slight increase, but overall, their growth has slowed. That’s according to a recent report from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Although there are now 77 wolves in 9 packs, the majority of the population is located in the Northeastern corner of the state. Fewer than 10 wolves are located west of I-84. Oregon Wild’s Executive Director Sean Stevens says they were surprised at the wolf numbers. And he doesn’t think there will be a healthy population until wolves cross the interstate.
Stevens: “Across the rest of the state where there’s lots of good habitat—in the Ochochos, in the south Cascades, in the north Cascades of Oregon, all the way over the Siskiyous in the coast range, but it’s going to be probably a slow recovery as wolves still work to get across that highway barrier.”
Stevens says studies have shown that Oregon’s natural habitat can support 1,000 or more wolves. He says before ODFW lifts protections for wolves, they should consider the slump in their growth rate.