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Oregon Officials Offer $10,000 Reward After Endangered Gray Wolf Found Illegally Killed in Lake County News By Diane Megaw On Jan 22, 2026 Last updated Jan 22, 2026 Male wolf from Wenaha pack | Courtesy: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) wants information about the illegal killing of a federally listed endangered gray wolf in Lake County, near the Klamath County border in the Yamsay Mountain area of Oregon, and will pay a reward of up to $10,000 for any information leading to an arrest, a criminal conviction, or civil penalty assessment. $10 000 Reward To Identify Gray Wolf Killers In Lake County, west of Highway 395, gray wolves are officially designated as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. But on October 7, 2025, a radio-collared male gray wolf known as OR186 was found dead on public land north of Yamsay Mountain, about 10 miles from Jackson Creek Campground in Klamath County and Upper Buck Creek Campground in Lake County. Tidings Data Snapshot Oregon minimum gray wolf count / 2022 to 2024 plus OR186 reward 178 ODFW minimum wolf count / 2022 178 ODFW minimum wolf count / 2023 204 ODFW minimum wolf count / 2024 $10,000 Reward offered in OR186 case Source: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife minimum wolf count reporting / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reward notice Dailytidings.com FWS, assisted by the Oregon State Police (OSP), is investigating the death of the gray wolf on October 7. If you have any information about this incident, call FWS at (503) 682-6131, or OSP Dispatch at (800) 452-7888, *OSP (*677). Alternatively, email [email protected] . You may remain anonymous. Southern Oregon Illegal Gray Wolf Killings Gray wolf poaching is a persistent threat to this endangered species in Oregon. Between 2022 and 2024, the state recorded 26 illegal wolf killings , slowing population growth despite overall increases to over 200 wolves statewide. The ODFW “ Documented Causes of Mortality ” table lists illegal or poaching-related deaths of gray wolves as follows: YEAR SHOT POISONED UNLAWFUL TOTAL 2022 5 0 2 7 2023 7 4 1 12 2024 2 4 1 7 TOTAL 14 8 4 26 In 2022 and 2023, the ODFW minimum wolf count was flat at 178, but then rose by about 14.6% to 204 in 2024. But ODFW confirmed that a poaching incident in 2023 reduced the number of gray wolf breeding pairs and affected the West Zone phase’s progress. To find out more, visit the FWS website here . Lake County Southern Oregon Share Twitter Facebook ReddIt WhatsApp Pinterest Email