Oregon Wolves: First Pups Spotted In Northern Cascades In Decades

GRESHAM, OR – These are faces that almost anyone should be able to love. For the first time since grey wolves started returning to Oregon more than 10 years ago, two pups have been spotted in the northern Cascades.

The state's Department of Fish and Wildlife says that a remote camera captured the two pups on August 10. They were photographed again nine days later.

The photo was taken in a remote corner of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, just south of Mt. Hood.

The wolves are part of what scientists have labeled the "White River Unit."

Wolves in Wasco County and anywhere west of Hwys 395-78-95 are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the lead management agency.

ODFW, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are working together to monitor this group of wolves.

Earlier this year, ODFW said in its annual wolf report that the state was home to at least 124 wolves last year, an increase of 11 percent over 2016. The wolves are separated into 12 packs.

Photo shows the breeding male of White River wolves with two pups, taken Aug. 19 by remote camera on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Photo courtesy of Wildlife Department BNR-Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.