The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reported nine new confirmed wolf depredations in Wallowa and Morrow counties.

Wolves killed one ewe and six month-old lambs on private land in the Lostine area of Wallowa County. The investigation opened April 25. The wolf or pack responsible was unknown.

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In the Grouse Flats area of Wallowa County, wolves killed a month-old calf on private land. That investigation started April 22. The Grouse Flats pack was responsible.

In Morrow County, an investigation opened April 22 after a two-day-old calf was injured by a wolf near Upper Rhea Creek. The Madison Butte pack was responsible.

In an annual report, ODFW listed the state’s minimum number of wolves at the end of 2023 at 178, nearly triple the population 10 years ago.

Ranchers believe the actual number is significantly higher.

The minimum wolf count was unchanged in 2023 due to 36 deaths, including the killing of wolves that attacked livestock and illegal poisonings. Ten wolves were also relocated to Colorado.

Wolves were eradicated from Oregon in the early 1900s, but were reintroduced to Idaho in the mid 1990s and began recolonizing northeast Oregon in 2008.