Wolves in the eastern third of Oregon have reached a in the state鈥檚 recovery program. Officials have confirmed seven breeding pairs in 2014, the third year in a row a healthy number of pups have survived. Those two indicators of a recovering wolf population trigger phase two in the state's wold reintroduction plan.
Oregon鈥檚 wolf program coordinator Russ Morgan spoke Wednesday on Oregon Public Broadcasting鈥檚 talk show . Morgan said one of the big takeaways is that ranchers can now kill wolves that are chasing livestock on their properties.
鈥淭his does not imply or indicate in any way sort of a shoot on type. Wolves are still protected, regardless of delisting,鈥� Morgan said.
This also means officials will start the process of removing wolves from the state Endangered Species List. That decision is expected to come in June.
There are five wolf breeding pairs in Washington as of December 2013.
It鈥檚 a different story in Idaho, which has 22 breeding pairs. There hunters can legally kill wolves and have organized a wolf hunting derby, although no wolves were killed during this year鈥檚 event.
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