-Oregon Fish and Wildlife-
Wenaha Pack Area of Known Wolf Activity map
February 25, 2015 – From the 2014 Annual Report
This pack was first discovered in 2008. The pack produced four pups surviving to the end of the year in 2014, thus qualifying as a breeding pair. One female is GPS collared within this pack. In addition to the pack’s traditional area (Wenaha unit), 12% of its locations occurred within the Sled Springs Unit in 2014. The collar data shows the pack using an 870 mi2 area with 85% of location data on public land. Though monitoring data showed a small amount of time (9%) spent in Washington, most of the packs locations, and the den, were in Oregon therefore this pack is counted in Oregon’s wolf population.
February 25, 2014 – From the 2013 Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Annual Report
Wenaha Pack: This pack was first discovered in 2008. Data shows that 2 females produced pups in 2013, but only 1 pup was known to survive to the end of the year. The pack does not count as a breeding pair. Two wolves (1 pup and 1 subadult) were confirmed to have died from parvovirus and this disease likely affected the other pups as well. The breeding male, a breeding female and a subadult female in the pack are GPS collared. The Wenaha Pack used its traditional area in the Wenaha unit and also started using a large amount of the Sled Springs Unit in 2013. The Oregon portion of the pack area increased to 1016 mi2 compared to 299 mi2 in 2012. The pack was on public land 63% of the time, down from 97% in 2012. Though monitoring data showed a small amount of time (8%) spent in Washington, most of the packs locations, and the den, were in Oregon therefore this pack is counted in Oregon’s wolf population.
August 12, 2013 2nd Wenaha wolf has died from parvovirus
Lab results show that a dead Wenaha Pack wolf pup recently found had died as a result of parvovirus. The carcass of the pup was discovered by ODFW on July 30th while staff was conducting routine surveys. This marks the second wolf death attributed to parvovirus in Oregon (the first was a 55-pound female yearling, also from the Wenaha pack, discovered in May 2013). Other apparently healthy pups were observed when the carcass of the pup was found on July 30, so the extent of the disease within this pack is unknown.
Parvovirus outbreaks have been documented in wolf populations throughout the western United States. In some areas parvovirus has caused short term declines in wolf populations by reducing the number of surviving pups. Long-term effects of the disease are less understood, but are generally not expected to threaten overall conservation of the species (though it may reduce the rate of population growth). ODFW staff will continue to monitor survival of the remaining pups as the year progresses.
May 30, 2013 Wolf OR19 died from complications of canine parvovirus
Preliminary laboratory results, conducted at Oregon State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, indicate that OR19, the wolf found dead by ODFW biologists on May 19, died of complications of canine parvovirus. The highly contagious and often fatal disease is common among domestic dogs, and can spill over into wild canids such as coyotes, foxes, and wolves. Domestic dogs are normally vaccinated for the disease but wild animals are not. Parvovirus has been documented in wild canids in other areas of the country and most commonly occurs in pups. It is unknown at this time if other wolves in Oregon are affected with the virus, but biologists will continue to monitor for signs of the disease throughout the summer.
This is the first documented case of parvovirus in Oregon wolves, though outbreaks have been well documented in wolf populations throughout the western United States. In some areas it has caused short term declines in wolf populations by reducing the number of surviving pups. Long-term effects are less understood, but are generally not expected to threaten overall conservation of the species (though it may reduce the rate of population growth).
May 22, 2013 Loss of collared Wenaha female
On May 11, 2013 a 55-pound yearling female wolf (OR19) from the Wenaha pack was trapped and released with a GPS radio-collar. She was caught in the Sled Springs unit where some members of the Wenaha pack have been located for more than a month. The capture went well and the wolf appeared healthy and unharmed. Following the capture, the movement data from the wolf appeared normal. However, late on May 17 the collar sent out a mortality message – a message which indicates the collar had been stationary for an extended period of time. Radio collar mortality signals do not always mean mortality, but on Sunday May 19 ODFW investigated the area and found that the wolf had died. The cause of death is unknown, but we do not suspect foul play at this time. Even so, the animal is being independently examined in an effort to learn more of the cause of death.
January 16, 2013 – The ending year-2012 wolf count for the Wenaha pack is 11 and Wenaha are a “breeding pair” for 2012. More information
November 19, 2012 – DNA results for Wenaha samples
DNA analysis of wolf scats in the Wenaha pack territory confirms that OR12 is the breeding male of the Wenaha pack in 2012. OR12 is the first wolf confirmed to have been born into one pack in Oregon (Imnaha), then dispersed and successfully bred in a different Oregon pack.
August 15, 2012 – ODFW surveyed the Wenaha pack on Aug 9, 2012 and was able to document seven pups for the pack.
|Two pups of the Wenaha wolf pack were captured and released on Aug. 20, 2010.
|ODFW biologists weigh one of the pups of the Wenaha wolf pack. Aug. 20, 2010.
|Wenaha pack wolf pup. Aug. 20, 2010.
August 1, 2012 – Genetic test results have found that OR12 (Wenaha Pack, captured on April 2, 2012) is progeny of the Imnaha pack (OR2 and OR4). OR12 is believed to be the breeding male for the Wenaha Pack and ODFW is currently testing Wenaha pup scats to confirm.
June 11, 2012 – ODFW biologists radio-collar OR-13
May 30, 2012 – ODFW observes four pups in Wenaha pack. Photo of pups
April 2, 2012 – Wenaha wolf collared
December 23, 2011 – Wenaha wolf pack has pup
August 5, 2011 – Yearling wolf seen on trail camera footage.
June 2011 – Trail camera footage captures images of wolves from the pack, including at least four adult wolves in pack
October 8, 2010 – Reward offered in wolf death USFWS news release
August 20, 2010 – Two pups of the Wenaha pack were trapped and released on Aug. 20, confirming for the first time that the pack produced pups this year.
August 4, 2010 – A two-year-old male of the Wenaha pack was captured, radio-collared and released on Aug. 4.
The Wenaha pack has an estimated four adult wolves. News release
July 21, 2008 – Wolf pack with pups confirmed in northeast Oregon News release
July 12, 2007 – Gray wolf found dead in Union County News release