$15,000 reward for information leading to arrest in illegal wolf poaching case

KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service teamed up with Oregon Wildlife Coalition and conservation partners to offer a combined $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the illegal killing of a gray wolf in Klamath County late last fall.

"Oregonians value native wildlife as well as justice and that's why we have such generous rewards for the poaching of wolves and other species," said Danielle Moser, wildlife program manager for Oregon Wild. "We want poachers of all species to be looking over their shoulders and wondering who is going to turn them in."

According to officials, the illegal killing of wolf OR-103 happened near Klamath Falls in Oct. 2022. It was first publicly reported by Fish and Wildlife on Dec. 15.

The federally protected wolf was accidentally captured by a USDA Wildlife Services trap in Deschutes County in 2021. He was radio-collared and released. OR-103 traveled to California before returning to Oregon last July.

Officials say due to an injury, OR-103 preyed on livestock, which are much easier to hunt than wild prey. The wolf was connected to multiple livestock predation reports over a few months.

“OR-103 didn’t deserve to die like this, and I hope the people who know what happened will do the right thing and come forward,” said Amaroq Weiss, senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Vigilante-style killings of wolves are both morally wrong and illegal.”

This marks the fifth known wolf poaching in Oregon last year. It followed the illegal poisoning deaths of multiple wolves in 2021 in Union County.

“Poaching is a serious crime that undermines science-based wildlife management and disrespects people and wildlife alike,” said Bethany Cotton, conservation director for Cascadia Wildlands. “We ask the public to call Oregon’s TIP line with any information they may have to ensure accountability, and we ask both federal and state officials to aggressively investigate and prosecute those responsible.”

Anyone with information about the death of OR-103 is urged to contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 503-682-6131 or the Oregon State Police TIP line at 800-452-7888. Callers can remain anonymous.