Oregon L.O.W.F.I

Archive for March 21st, 2009

On the heels of the otter post, where authorities acknowledged keeping the information to themselves about otters off the Oregon coast, comes this article in the Eugene Register-Guard: Wildlife Experts On Prowl To Sight Wolves.

I have a deep connection to wolves; it is my personal totem animal, my adopted clan animal, and Wolf has come to me many times in dreams. News of the wolf coming back to Oregon, where I live, is both wonderful yet also cause for anxiety, in regards to its potential fate.

In the Central Cascades area, there have been reports of a “wolf-like” creature seen in the area. This past winter, a wolf or “wolf hybrid” was filmed in the Santiam Pass. Witnesses in January saw “a dark, wolf-like animal” in the Pass. Biologists have been searching for evidence of the wolf in Oregon, mainly in Northeastern Oregon, where it hasn’t been known to exist since the 1940s. According to the article “large canids in the Cascades have brought the search for wolves to Central Oregon.”(There have also been reports of wolf like animal at Crater Lake, and 140 miles away at Suttle Lake.) Presumably, this means there is physical evidence of a wolf (or “wolf like”) animal in the area. But John Stephenson, Oregon’s “wolf coordinator” with the Fish and Wildlife Service, says “It’s a long shot” signs of a wolf will be found. (It’s a bit confusing what he means is “a long shot” it’s either bad writing on the part of the journalist, or intentionally distracting. Does he mean it’s a long shot evidence of wolves will be found in general, or that it’s a “long shot” evened will be found because there are no wolves, despite the film evidence?)

Stephenson and his crew searched for wolves in the area, but didn’t find any; suggesting that since he didn’t see anything, there isn’t anything there to see. The animal caught on film in the Pass was probably a “lone animal” just coming through.

In a particularly bit of Fortean twisty turvy weirdness, wolves are protected; considered an endangered species in Oregon, but only west of Pendleton and Burns. East of there, you can kill all the wolves you like. I wonder if Sarah Palin knows about this? (See my item on my animal blog tëme (tëme means “wolf” in the Lennape language, my grandfather’s tribe) on Palin’s blood lust and wolf hunts.)

Furthering this odd balancing act of wolf assassination vs. wolf reverence, is Oregon’s protection of the wolf “until there are four breeding paris east of U.S. Highway 97 for three consecutive years.” Then it’s okay to kill them again.

Wolves were in Oregon up until the 1940s; by then, they had been exterminated. Now that they seem to be coming back, the fears of some humans are also returning. Ranchers and farmers in particular believe wolves are a danger, not understanding they are predators that kill to eat only when hungry; they are not feral dogs. Witnesses insist they saw what they saw, and are either believed or not, depending on who’s doing the listening. Authorities have their own agendas which vary according to the individuals; a desire to protect the species above all else, greed, kowtowing to land owners, job protection, arrogance, and so on.

In a strange juxtaposition to the cruelty imposed on wolves and the blood lust some humans have for wolves, there are, thankfully, wolf sanctuaries in the Northwest that care for wolves. There is the Howling Wolf Sanctuary in the Grants Pass area. I recently “adopted” a wolf from them: his name is Tishmingo and he is a Timber/Arctic wolf, and the Alpha in his pack.

Another wolf sanctuary, also in Oregon, is the White Wolf Sanctuary in Tidewater, near the coast. In Washington state, there is Wolf Haven International.Let’s hope the wolf can be allowed to be, without a bounty on its existence.