Pregnant cow killed: 'All evidence indicates wolf attack'
Warning: Some of the details of the investigation may be too graphic for some readers
WALLOWA, Ore. - An Oregon wolf pack killed a pregnant cow in a private pasture on Monday morning, biologists from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed.
The rancher found the cow dead and saw wolves near the carcass. ODFW responded to investigate to determine whether the wolves killed the cow or were scavenging the carcass.
The evidence led state biologists to confirm that wolves had killed the cow.
Biologists said GPS tracking collar data showed that wolf OR-4, the alpha male of the Imnaha pack, was in the area from 11 p.m. Sunday until 8 a.m. Monday.
"In addition, the very high number of tracks found at the scene suggests the pack was present," ODFW reported. "A clear struggle scene was observed in the snow which showed multiple wolf tracks and large amounts of blood scattered over a large area of the carcass."
At the end of 2012, the Imnaha pack was estimated at 8 wolves, including a breeding pair.
Biologists said the cow suffered multiple bites in the typical wolf attack areas – behind the front shoulders; in front of the front shoulders and brisket area; groin and anterior portion of hind legs; and in the rump/udder area. The wounds suggest the injuries came while the cow was still alive.
"The fetus of the cow had been removed and mostly consumed – similar to past confirmed depredations of adult cows by the Imnaha Pack," biologits noted. "All evidence (wolves present at scene, bite marks and locations, struggle scene with multiple wolf tracks, and internal hemorrhage) indicates wolf attack."
The rancher/farmer will be compensated monetarily for the loss. With the current mindset of Eastern Oregon ranchers and farmers over the wolves. I don't blame the wolves for taking down this animal.Hunger does strange thing to hungry critters,,including humans.Since those same ranchers and farmers think nothing of shooting these wolves..The wolves have wised up .Why does this keep making news? It is nature at work..Wolves are predators and eat meat as we do.. I don't hear anybody screaming about the kills made by man, of an elk or a mule deer or butchering a cow for supper
 @Whitehawk Pyrenees/Maremma cross guard dogs help to repel wolfs.  If rancher is a newbie without dogs maybe they should have dogs. Article is lacking in information regarding what precaution rancher took if any. Most working ranches are loaded with big guard dogs.
@Whitehawk Yeh, guess who is paying for that wolf's meal. That will be a pretty expensive steak dinner. The wolf is a predator just like the coyote, it just generally goes after a bigger target. Eventually there will either be too many and the tax payers will revolt, or they will be controlled the way coyotes are controlled. What would you like to bet that the State in all it's wisdom will let it get out of control before they change the classification of the wolf, put a season on them or just treat them like coyotes. Idaho is already controlling their packs.
This is why we killed them off in the first place. Not saying it was right. But to coexist with wolves and grizzly bears means loss of human lives and livestock.
 @givupongod Loss of human life? is there documentation proving this?From wolves?
 @Whitehawk  @givupongod There is from grizzly bears.
@Whitehawk @givupongod Per Wikipedia, only 20 kills in this century, mostly in Russia.  Their reports go back to the 1700's but it seems North American wolves eat fewer people than european wolves.
lets not forget the cow was to be killed or her baby killed for human consumption soon... the wolves just got them first. If that baby was a male, it would be raised for veal or beef, if the baby was female, she'd be forced to breed and give up all her babies way too soon. Sounds like the cows got the better deal anyway.
@kcb123 Eaten alive is a better deal? Interesting point of view.
@hewhoo: How do you know that the cow was alive when eaten?
@mackenzie0158 Parts were consumed while alive:Â "Â cow suffered multiple bites in the typical wolf attack areas â behind the front shoulders; in front of the front shoulders and brisket area; groin and anterior portion of hind legs; and in the rump/udder area. The wounds suggest the injuries came while the cow was still alive."Â Wolves don't spit out parts chewed off, they swallow them.
The wolves left a message in snow using cow blood. It reads, "the rancher's next!" Oh, Noes!
And the bring-back-the-cute-wolves people in Portland, Salem and Eugene rejoice!Â
Who was here first? Oh yeah, wolves. And this rancher will be compensated generously for his loss. Wolves belong in our ecosystem. Maybe we should ban cars because people drive into open-range cows?
 @jeff g Who cares who was here first? Did the wolves call dibs? =/
@jeff g The wolf belongs in his ecosystem, that ceased to exist 100 years ago, lets kill all the wolves and be done with it.
@jeff g Unless you are vegan, you have unintegrated values. Chickens and cattle and sheep were domesticated by (gasp!) humans thousands of years ago. Wolves have been snacking on them ever since. Are you ready to go back to an agrarian society with only roots and vegetables to eat? Be prepared to watch millions die of starvation, if you are.
@hewhoo: Forced to go back to an agrarian society and millions die of starvation; those are some mighty leaps to make based only on information in this article. And wolves still preceded domesticated livestock.