Cattleman's association denounces wolf killing
Decrying the recent wolf killing in Wallowa County, the chairman of the Oregon Cattleman's Association's wolf committee, Ron Childers, speaks out for wolves.
In regard to the collared male wolf that was discovered killed in the Umatilla National Forest of northern Wallowa County recently: The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association denounces this act in the strongest possible terms. Not only is killing a wolf illegal, it is also a serious disservice to ranchers. The telemetry data provided by radio collars like the one worn by this wolf are shared with ranchers by the state and federal wildlife agencies. These data are essential to helping ranchers know the location of wolves while trying to keep their livestock safe from this predator.
The public needs to understand that there are not alternative locations in which to move the livestock. This critical tool helps the ranchers protect their livestock from wolf predation. Whoever killed this wolf was acting on his own personal choice.
The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association supports a wolf management plan that provides for the protection of livestock and wildlife as well as a sustainable population of wolves. We also believe that the only way of crafting good wolf management is through public comment and close cooperation with state and federal agencies. We are categorically against illegally killing wolves, which are a federally protected species.
Rod Childers, Enterprise
Childers is wolf committee chairman for the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association.
