Update (02-28-17 11:25 a.m.) — After a 3-day-old calf was found dead near Prospect, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials confirmed it was killed by a wolf.
According to ODFW, a ranch employee found the remains of the calf on February 25. Apparent wolf tracks were found around the carcass.
A wolf attack was suspected, and ODFW examined the carcass the same day. Based on evidence gathered, officials said the cause of death was wolf depredation.
ODFW said GPS data shows wolf OR25 was present at the kill site.
Jackson County, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is investigating a potential wolf attack on some cattle in the Prospect area.
The attack happened Friday night on the 400 block of Red Blanket Road.
While it has not been confirmed whether the attack was done by a wolf, the chairman of the Jackson County Wolf Committee says there are precautionary measures the public can take to prevent future attacks.
Those include not leaving any trash, animal food, or the carcass of an animal outside.
Chairman Greg Roberts says you can also get livestock protection dogs and there are new methods like motion sensor lights or a ‘flattery fence’ that has metallic strips attached to it.
Since it’s illegal to kill a wolf, Roberts says it’s the committee’s job to educate the public and prevent attacks from happening in the first place.
“We don’t want to see people’s animals being killed. On the other hand, we also don’t want to see harm come to the wolves. The wolves have a right to be here, the humans have a right to be here,” Roberts said.
The owner of the calf that was attacked in Prospect says she has moved the mother cow and her babies to a safer location and they have someone patrolling the property every two hours.
According to Roberts, the Department of Agriculture will compensate those who have lost an animal if it can be confirmed that the animal was killed by a wolf.
The Jackson County Wolf Committee works with people on a local level to make sure everyone gets the forms needed to get compensation when their animals have been killed by wolves.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife says it plans to release more information on the attack Tuesday.
Check back with NBC5 for updates.
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