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3 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 Flip-flopped dam-removal plans on Evans Creek could start next week ... Oregon lawmakers adjourn with bills to help gay veterans, strippers ... Troopers cleared in fatal shooting outside Grants Pass ... Flip-flopped dam-removal plans on Evans Creek could start next week ... Oregon lawmakers adjourn with bills to help gay veterans, strippers ... Troopers cleared in fatal shooting outside Grants Pass ... OTHER VIEWS Other Views: Wolves deserve the presumption of innocence Comment By The (Bend) Bulletin MailTribune.com By The (Bend) Bulletin Posted Jul. 4, 2015 at 12:01 AM By The (Bend) Bulletin Posted Jul. 4, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Naturalists couldn't be happier about the growing number of wolves in Oregon. For them, the return of wolves restores a missing piece of the ecosystem. But almost in inverse proportion, ranchers are not so pleased. We don't want to make light of the serious issues that divide naturalists and ranchers, but there are great mystery stories in the state's wolf kill investigations. The reports are how the state determines if a wolf is guilty of killing livestock. They help measure the impact of wolves in Oregon and can earn ranchers compensation for losses. The reports aren't great literature. But for a bureaucratic report, there is fascinating intrigue in the evidence, sleuthing and suspects. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife tries to get an investigator on site within 24 hours of a report of a possible wolf kill. There is measurement of bite marks and location. Determinations are made about what wounds were killing strikes and what was postmortem feeding. There's analysis of tracks. There's comparison of tracking locations of collared wolves. The final reports are published online at www.dfw.state.or.us/Wolves/depredation_investigations.asp . Sometimes, wolves are blamed. Sometimes, it's a mountain lion. Sometimes, ODFW investigators are just not sure. Ranchers complain about these investigations. Todd Nash, a Wallowa County rancher and chairman of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association wolf committee, doesn't feel ODFW is willing enough to confirm a wolf kill. He told the East Oregonian it would be easier to find O.J. Simpson guilty than a wolf. He pointed to an incident in Wallowa County this year of the death of a calf. There was evidence the calf had been attacked by a wolf and a coyote. The investigation decision was "probable wolf" instead of "confirmed wolf." Nash's frustration is understandable. But ODFW's decision in that case seemed reasonable given the evidence presented in the report. The state does have a responsibility to get rid of wolves that are chronically preying on livestock. But if the paw doesn't fit, the state must acquit. By The (Bend) Bulletin MailTribune.com By The (Bend) Bulletin Posted Jul. 4, 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