A gray wolf responsible for killing six calves and injuring two more — and the probable cause of four more livestock depredations — was killed by federal officials Feb. 26 in Lake County, Ore.

OR 158, a GPS radio-collared wolf, was deemed a threat to humans and that allowed the endangered animal to be removed, according to an update from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The wolf’s death came after extensive unsuccessful attempts at non-lethal deterrence and increasing concerns about public safety.

Timeline, deterrence plan

ODFW investigated and confirmed the death of a 5-day-old calf in Lake County on Jan. 30. This killing triggered the designation of an area of depredating wolves and the preparation of a deterrence plan.

According to a timeline from Lauren Mulligan, ODFW spokeswoman, that was the third confirmed livestock depredation from OR 158. The wolf had previously injured a calf in Harney County in June, was suspected in a livestock attack in Crook County from November, and injured another Crook County calf Jan. 14.

Between Jan. 30 and Feb. 18, the wolf killed five more calves and was probably the cause of three additional calf deaths, according to the timeline. All of the deaths except one were in Lake County, while the other was in Klamath County.

A draft of the deterrence plan dated Feb. 19 was shared with landowners and livestock producers in Klamath and Lake counties, farm organizations and state and federal agencies, according to the final plan from Feb. 20.

Deterrence methods used against OR 158 included range riders to increase human presence, spotlighting, pasture monitoring, fox lights, air cannons, non-lethal projectiles, carcass removal and drones with thermal optics, according to the ODFW update about the wolf’s death.

Wide range

OR 158 was captured and collared southeast of Halfway, Ore., in the northeast of the state, in March 2024, according to ODFW’s wolf conflict deterrence plan.

The wolf moved into central Oregon in May, continuing into northern California in December.

After a week in California, OR 158 returned to Oregon. Since Dec. 24, his movements had been localized in Deschutes, Crook, Lake and Klamath counties and an area of known wolf activity was posted Feb. 20.

Oregon wolf removals

In 2023, the latest year full data was available from ODFW, 16 wolves in Eastern Oregon were killed in response to chronic livestock killings, while authorities didn’t kill any wolves in western Oregon.

In recent months, at least eight wolves have been lethally removed by authorities in Oregon. The ODFW website lists seven approved wolf killings in Eastern Oregon, where the predators aren’t listed as endangered.

Mulligan said in an email that wolf conflicts pick up this time of year with calving season.

Authorities have killed five wolves from the Frazier Mountain pack in Union County since November due to continuing livestock depredations, according to ODFW’s website.

In December, one wolf from the Logan Valley pack, which mainly prowls Grant County, was killed by a rancher with a limited duration permit while the animal was attacking livestock.

A kill permit for up to three wolves from the Logan Valley pack has been extended until March 31.

On Jan. 29, one wolf was killed from the Bear Valley group of Grant County.

Illegal wolf killings

Unauthorized wolf killings also have occurred in recent months.

In mid-December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offered a $10,000 reward regarding the illegal killing of a gray wolf in Morrow County. The wolf was found dead Nov. 8 on private land south of Heppner, Ore., according to the agency.

In early February, the Oregon State Police offered a $12,000 reward for help identifying a wolf poacher in Union County.

In that case, only the radio collar of the alpha male from the Frazier Mountain Pack was found in late January, according to OSP.