PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Officials are searching for suspects in a string of poisoning incidents leading to the deaths of three gray wolves, two golden eagles, a mountain lion, a coyote and even two dogs, all of which occurred within the last year throughout Wallowa County, Oregon.
Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward of $25,000 for information leading to an arrest, criminal conviction or penalty for the poisoning of the wolves and golden eagles.
Two of the poisonings occurred in the second half of 2023, within the Chesnimnus Wildlife Management Unit, approximately 30 miles northeast of Enterprise, Oregon, officials said.
Less than a year later, in April of this year, F&W Troopers responded to another suspected poisoning of a wolf in the Wenaha Wildlife Management Unit, approximately 5 miles west of Troy, Oregon.
Two poisonings of domestic dogs, also occurring in April, happened just north of Enterprise and just north of Imnaha, Oregon respectively. These were likely intended for wolves, according to Oregon State Police.
However, one incident taking place in early February 2024 required officials to search extensively for the source of the poison. After being dispatched on the death of three collared wolves in the Hells Canyon Area, it reportedly took a whole day of hiking before authorities found a cow carcass laced with the poison in a creek in the Imnaha River drainage.
It reportedly took several more weeks to uncover the full death toll from the poisoning, as officials continued to find dead wildlife, including the two golden eagles, cougar and coyote.
Since some poisons are toxic to living beings and not biodegradable, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife worked to extract the cow carcass from the environment, moving it onto a tarp and lifting it out by helicopter for proper disposal.
According to new sentencing guidelines passed by the Oregon State Legislature in 2019, poisoning a wolf is a Class C Felony, punishable by up to a $125,000 fine and up to five years in prison. Additionally, poaching federally protected wildlife or poaching multiple animals constitutes a felony charge.
ODFW is also calling these poisonings a “disturbing trend,” which has killed 19 wolves in Oregon since 2015.
“Northeast Oregon is known for its natural resources and outdoor opportunities, so it’s just terrible to have this going on,” said Bernadette Graham-Hudson, ODFW wildlife division administrator. “We hope whoever is poisoning wildlife is quickly caught and punished for the safety of people, wildlife, and pets in northeast Oregon.”
Anyone with information regarding any of these cases is encouraged to contact authorities.