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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Two races set for council positions Deadly virus stalks Southern Oregon deer Police Log Oregon sues Oracle and executives over health insurance exchange website PDF: State of Oregon v. Oracle America Inc. complaint Education SOU ROAR's to life Middle schoolers get a taste of college living Environment Deadly virus stalks Southern Oregon deer National monument area still faces threats What do you think of the return of wolves to Jackson County? How has the drought affected you? 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Two views City sets example on marijuana tax Our View: Review the ordinance, not the site Our View: New twist on the flying wedge Proof is in the numbers Letters Letters to the Editor, Aug. 20 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 19 Letter at Length: Bravo to Ashland for water conservation Letters to the Editor, Tuesday, Aug. 12 Letters to the Editor Guest opinions Opportunities for civic involvement are plentiful in Ashland Hamas supporters spread anti-Semitism around the world A fresh start for the Tidings — and for Mount Ashland Republicans and the politics of cognitive dissonance Revels Latest Stories Community blog:Ashland Book and Author Festival Coming Soon Ashland's On The Fly Improv had the audience rolling Community blog:Poet Laureate Peter Sears in Ashland World of Wine celebrates local varietals 4 things to do this weekend Theater OSF adds 'Wrinkle in Time' Family Night Daedalus Project 2014 Randall Theatre opens 'Godspell' Music 'On the Fly' Live 'on the bricks' Sweet Ghosts at Oberon's Tavern Visual Art First Friday art walk in Ashland Movies Varsity Theatre, Ashland Street Cinemas movie listings: Aug. 22-26 'What If' hits the sweet spot Varsity Theatre, Ashland Street Cinemas movie listings: Aug. 15-21 'Boyhood' and 'The Hundred-Foot Journey' 'A Most Wanted Man' is full of complexities Food and Drink World of Wine celebrates local varietals Lifestyle Latest Stories Here's what you need to know if you're getting older Inner Peace: Being in conscious presence or peacefulness If pot is medicine, should it be taxed? Backstage: For TV, never go beyond take three Food Project is a success story Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries NEWS NOW Health officials detect West Nile Virus in another Jackson County sample ... CALENDAR ... Health officials detect West Nile Virus in another Jackson County sample ... CALENDAR ... LOCAL TAKE: OR-7 FINDS MATE, STARTS FAMILY What do you think of the return of wolves to Jackson County? By Ian Hand Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Ian Hand Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Aug. 18, 2014 @ 5:27 pm Updated Aug 19, 2014 at 4:37 PM By Ian Hand Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Aug. 18, 2014 @ 5:27 pm Updated Aug 19, 2014 at 4:37 PM » RELATED CONTENT • What do you think about the return of wolves in Jackson C... » Social News What happened While wolves were once common in Oregon, they were absent from the state between the 1940s and late '90s due to deliberate eradication of the animals. By 1999, wolves from Idaho began to make a home back in Oregon and the population grew to a minimum of 64 wolves in eight packs by 2013. The state adopted the "Wolf Conservation and Management Plan" in 2005 in order to facilitate the species' recovery in Oregon. While wolves have been delisted nationally as endangered, which removes some protections, they are still endangered in Oregon. While all of the known packs are the northeast portion of the state (pack territories are in Wallowa, Union, Baker and Umatilla counties), lone wolf OR-7 left the Imnaha pack in 2011 and journeyed southwest to finally settle in southeast Jackson County and southwest Klamath County.  What's happening After a journey that lasted hundreds of miles, OR-7 became the first wolf west of the Cascades in nearly 70 years.  "Wolves can often disperse pretty far," says Joseph Vaile, executive director for the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center. "They go in search of their habitat. They look for remote country." Vaile says that, while the journey is miraculous, that he was able to find a mate is even more miraculous. "She must have made quite the journey herself," he says. OR-7's mate then gave birth to, at least, three pups in late April or early May. What this means While OR-7's pups may grow and form their own families, the wolf population here in Jackson County is still, partially, dependent on the packs in the northeast.  "It really depends on how the wolves are able to recover up there," Vaile says. "If the packs are able to grow, we might see more wolves disperse."  While Oregon lists wolves as endangered under the state Endangered Species Act, they are not listed federally. Vaile says that there is a plan to delist wolves throughout all of the contiguous states.  "It's concerning," he says. "Wolves are pretty resilient, but this may prevent recovery of wolves on the West Coast. "Wolves do an incredible job regulating the ecosystem. It's really important to allow these top level carnivores to recover." By Ian Hand Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Ian Hand Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Aug. 18, 2014 @ 5:27 pm Updated Aug 19, 2014 at 4:37 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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