Animals are a regular topic in the SJ.  In Oregon, we care deeply about our farm animals and our pets.  Our wild wolf pack and our eagles.  Our mountain lions and our abandoned kittens.  The stories are often tragic, and sometimes not.

This morning’s paper published a bitter-sweet story on the front page, excerpted here:

STATE KILLS WOLVES AFTER ANIMAL ATTACKS
Livestock Deaths Spur ODFW Action
Zach Urness
Statesman Journal
Four wolves were shot and killed by wildlife officials Thursday afternoon in northeast Oregon, bringing to an end a weeklong spate of violence between the Imnaha Pack and two livestock operations.
The wolves made five attacks on livestock this month, including four in the past week, which resulted in the death of two sheep and four cattle, state biologists said.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife classified the situation as “chronic livestock depredation” and authorized the killing of alpha male OR-4, alpha female OR-39 and two younger wolves.
“This was a very unfortunate situation for everybody involved,” said Russ Morgan, ODFW wolf coordinator, in phone interview. “As wildlife managers, we have to strike a balance between conserving wolves and minimizing impacts on livestock. This action wasn’t easy, but we felt it was the correct decision under these circumstances.”
“Losing these wolves, in this situation, is very tough,” Morgan said. “But Oregon’s wolf population is still healthy and is still going to grow in every part in every state.”

And a happier report on the back page cheered us up

NIGERIAN DWARF GOAT MARIGOLD GIVES BIRTH TO QUINTUPLETS
George Plaven in the East Oregonian

PENDLETON – After five months of pregnancy, “Magnificent Mary” was so big she could barely walk.
Finally on March 24, the nanny Nigerian dwarf goat was ready to give birth.
The Prowses, who live outside of Pendleton, Oregon, have raised dairy goats for 30 years and they’ve never seen quintuplets. Goats usually have between one and three kids per litter, but five are extremely rare; the odds are about one in 10,000, according to one estimate.

All of the kids survived, and on Wednesday they were already prancing and jumping lively around the Prowses’ red barn in front of their house. There’s Minnie and Benson (who was born back-end first, Mariota (named after the former Oregon Ducks quarterback), Polly and fifth and final: Cinco.

In all, Marigold gave birth to three billies and two does, each one inheriting the striking blue eyes of their father, Picasso. 
Nigerian dwarf goats are smaller and easier to handle, Jeannie Prowse said, but still

deliver a good amount of milk for their size. The Prowses use goat milk to make cheese, yogurt and are venturing into making soap.

Marigold is getting some help from Jeannie with keeping her babies’ tummies full.

And this is the big news from out here in the Wild West.  Is this a great place or what?