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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Fire destroys west Medford mobile home ... Jackson County deputy stops suicidal man who was stabbing himself ... Man threatened to detonate bomb during arrest ... Fire destroys west Medford mobile home ... Jackson County deputy stops suicidal man who was stabbing himself ... Man threatened to detonate bomb during arrest ... OUR VIEW Our View: Waiting is best approach to wolf damage Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 6, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 6, 2015 at 12:01 AM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter . » Social News Jackson County commissioners made the right call in deciding to wait to set up a wolf compensation program until a wolf actually harms livestock. When that happens — and it probably will, eventually — any compensation program should be based on facts, not fear and emotion. Southern Oregon is now believed to be home to at least seven wolves. The county's Natural Resources Advisory Committee recommended that the county establish a wolf depredation committee, a required step to qualify for state grants to compensate ranchers for livestock losses and pay for prevention measures to reduce contact between wolves and livestock. On Thursday, the commissioners decided to wait. There has not yet been a confirmed kill here, meaning the county likely would get only $1,000 to $5,000 initially, while incurring costs in setting up and publicizing the committee. Most of the money available now goes to counties in northeastern Oregon, where the majority of Oregon's wolves live. Even there, however, wolf kills are not the leading cause of livestock deaths by a long shot. The U.S. Department of Agriculture keeps track of cattle deaths and the reasons for them. According to the agency's 2010 report, nationwide, coyotes accounted for 53 percent of cattle deaths from predators. Wolves were responsible for 3.7 percent. And deaths from non-predator causes — disease, injury, calving problems, weather and poisoning — far outstrip all predators combined. In Oregon, coyotes were responsible for more than 63 percent of predator kills. Cougars were second, at 13.3 percent. Wolves were listed at zero or less than 0.1 percent. In 2014, 18 sheep and four cattle were confirmed killed by wolves in Oregon. To put that in perspective, cattle and calves killed by predators of all types in 2011 in Oregon totaled 3,800 head. Non-predator kills that year totaled 51,200 head. When and if Southern Oregon's wolves prey on livestock, some compensation is appropriate, although it's important to keep the threat of wolves in perspective. For the time being, the commissioners were right to take a wait-and-see approach.   MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 6, 2015 at 12:01 AM » 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501