BEND, Ore. — Kayla Cook was on Cascade Lakes Highway when she saw a lone wolf on the side of the road.
“It was just really beautiful,” Cook said. “I’m always out there looking for wildlife, taking pictures, fishing and stuff. Just seeing that out there, I feel really lucky. You know, a lot of people don’t get to experience it. It will probably never happen to me again, and it was cool.”
Cook contacted the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife shortly after the encounter. ODFW told her the wolf is a 16-month male that has traveled hundreds of miles over the past month.
Sally Compton, the executive director at wildlife rehabilitation center Think Wild, says the wolf is originally from the Indigo Pack near Diamond Lake, roughly 100 miles from Bend.
“It’s very normal as wolves mature to start to disperse,” Compton said. “They can go hundreds or even thousands of miles as they’re seeking new territory or a mate or food resources. Likely, this wolf was exploring new territory or finding a mate.”
ODFW also tracks wolves in the state using radio collars, which use radio signals to track the animals’ movements. It also uses trail cameras and scat to see where the wolves are, giving insight into their movements.
“Wolves originally dispersed in Eastern Oregon and we’re seeing them move west across the state as their populations grow and increase due to protections, as we’re working to improve habitat and work with landholders and prevent different conflicts, whether it’s poaching or them getting hit by cars,” she said.
