Crook County commissioners voted Dec. 31 to sign a letter asking state and federal wildlife authorities and the county’s U.S. senators to support measures to address repeated livestock depredations attributed to a single adult female wolf.

A commissioner described the animal as a “very old female,” said it has been linked to multiple livestock kills and that nonlethal measures have not worked. “She came in and immediately had two kills,” the commissioner said during the meeting, adding the animal knocked down and killed a roughly 1,300‑pound bred cow before Christmas. The commissioner raised concerns about public safety, saying children at bus stops might be at risk.

The letter – intended for the governor, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. agency referred to in the meeting as U.S. wildlife services, and Senators “Buckley” and Wyden – requests support for legislative or administrative action to permit removal or other measures when a wolf poses repeated threats to livestock and public safety. The speaker said a relevant House measure previously passed narrowly and urged the senators to advance action in the Senate.

The board moved and seconded a motion to approve the letter and voted in favor. The motion’s mover and seconder were recorded on the meeting floor and the board authorized signature of the letter.

Next steps: county staff will send the signed letter to the listed recipients. The meeting record shows the board approved the letter; it did not record further policy or regulatory action beyond the request.