The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division has closed its investigation into the death of a wolf that was found dead in Wallowa County in January.
On January 8, Fish & Wildlife Division Troopers responded to the location of a deceased, collared wolf on Parsnip Creek Road, in Wallowa County. Troopers located the lone female wolf, known as OR 106, dispersed from the Chesnimnus Pack. Initial observations suggested the wolf died as the result of gunshot wounds.
Based upon these observations, OR 106 was transported to the United States Fish & Wildlife Service Forensic Lab in Ashland for pathological examination. According to the veterinary examination report, which was received in early March, OR 106 died as a result of blunt force trauma to the chest and pelvic area. The report indicated that the associated trauma was most consistent with a vehicle collision, though other wounds were suspicious of intraspecific fight wounds. A previous gunshot injury to the wolf’s left hind leg was also noted, and though not completely healed, it didn’t appear to be debilitating and was not associated with the cause of death.
