Oregon Officials Offer $10,000 Reward After Endangered Gray Wolf Found Illegally Killed in Lake County
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) wants information about the illegal killing of a federally listed endangered gray wolf in Lake County, near the Klamath County border in the Yamsay Mountain area of Oregon, and will pay a reward of up to $10,000 for any information leading to an arrest, a criminal conviction, or civil penalty assessment.
$10 000 Reward To Identify Gray Wolf Killers
In Lake County, west of Highway 395, gray wolves are officially designated as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
But on October 7, 2025, a radio-collared male gray wolf known as OR186 was found dead on public land north of Yamsay Mountain, about 10 miles from Jackson Creek Campground in Klamath County and Upper Buck Creek Campground in Lake County.
Source: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife minimum wolf count reporting / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reward notice
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FWS, assisted by the Oregon State Police (OSP), is investigating the death of the gray wolf on October 7. If you have any information about this incident, call FWS at (503) 682-6131, or OSP Dispatch at (800) 452-7888, *OSP (*677). Alternatively, email [email protected]. You may remain anonymous.
Southern Oregon Illegal Gray Wolf Killings
Gray wolf poaching is a persistent threat to this endangered species in Oregon. Between 2022 and 2024, the state recorded 26 illegal wolf killings, slowing population growth despite overall increases to over 200 wolves statewide.
The ODFW “Documented Causes of Mortality” table lists illegal or poaching-related deaths of gray wolves as follows:
| YEAR | SHOT | POISONED | UNLAWFUL | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| 2023 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 12 |
| 2024 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| TOTAL | 14 | 8 | 4 | 26 |
In 2022 and 2023, the ODFW minimum wolf count was flat at 178, but then rose by about 14.6% to 204 in 2024. But ODFW confirmed that a poaching incident in 2023 reduced the number of gray wolf breeding pairs and affected the West Zone phase’s progress.
To find out more, visit the FWS website here.