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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 Alleged San Diego car thief draws heavy police presence to east Medford ... Grants Pass woman dies following Interstate 5 crash ... Medford considers foreclosure action on abandoned properties to fight blight ... Alleged San Diego car thief draws heavy police presence to east Medford ... Grants Pass woman dies following Interstate 5 crash ... Medford considers foreclosure action on abandoned properties to fight blight ... OREGON WILDLIFE UPDATE: Oregon kills 4 wolves that attacked livestock They attacked livestock five times in March Comment By Steven DuBois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Steven DuBois The Associated Press Posted Mar. 31, 2016 at 3:27 PM Updated Mar 31, 2016 at 4:12 PM By Steven DuBois The Associated Press Posted Mar. 31, 2016 at 3:27 PM Updated Mar 31, 2016 at 4:12 PM » Social News PORTLAND — Four wolves that attacked livestock in eastern Oregon in recent weeks were shot and killed by state wildlife staff on Thursday, the third time lethal control has been employed since the animals returned to the state in the early 2000s. The wolves, members of the Imnaha pack, attacked livestock five times in March, killing cows and sheep on private land in Wallowa County. The four wolves involved in the attacks appear to have separated from the rest of the pack, said Russ Morgan, wolf coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. "This is the tough part of the job, but we believe lethal control is the right decision in this situation," Morgan said. "Wildlife managers must strike a balance between conserving wolves and minimizing impacts on livestock." The four wolves were shot and killed by agency staff on Thursday, Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Michelle Dennehy said. A livestock producer asked the department to take lethal action after a March 9 attack. The agency didn't authorize it because it was the pack's first attack since October, so the situation wasn't considered chronic. That changed when the pack killed or injured livestock in four additional incidents over the past week. This was the first time Fish and Wildlife has used lethal control since 2011, when two wolves from the Imnaha pack were killed. Before that, two wolves were killed in 2009 following livestock attacks in Baker County. The state's latest wolf report, released in February, said there were 110 known wolves in Oregon, up 36 percent since 2014. The report said wolves killed 10 sheep, three calves and one working dog in 2015. Age and physical condition might be a factor in the recent depredation, Morgan said. The radio-collared alpha male is nearly 10 years old, and the alpha female with him has been known to limp. "As wolves grow old, or if they are injured, they are unable to hunt traditional wild prey as they have in the past," Morgan said. "This could be playing a role in the pack's recent behavior." By Steven DuBois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Steven DuBois The Associated Press Posted Mar. 31, 2016 at 3:27 PM Updated Mar 31, 2016 at 4:12 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. 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 2016 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