Anonymous
By the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
California has a new gray wolf pack in Tulare County, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced [on Friday]. This is the Golden State’s southernmost pack and it is at least 200 air miles from the nearest known pack in northeastern California.
In July, CDFW received a wolf sighting report from a location in the Sequoia National Forest. CDFW investigated the reported location, found wolf tracks and other signs of wolf presence, and collected 12 scat and hair samples from the immediate area for genetic testing. CDFW’s Wildlife Forensics Laboratory performed DNA analysis to determine if the samples were from wolf, as well as sex, coat color, individual identity, relation to one another and pack origin. All 12 samples were confirmed gray wolf. The new pack consists of at least five individuals not previously detected in California, including one adult female, who is a direct descendant of California’s first documented wolf in the state in recent history, (OR7), and four offspring (two females, two males). None of the samples collected came from an adult male, however the genetic profile from the offspring indicate that the breeding male is a descendant of the Lassen Pack.
Gray wolves are native to California but were extirpated in the state by the 1920s. In late 2011, OR7 crossed the state line to become the first wolf in nearly a century to make California part of his range before returning to Oregon to form the Rogue Pack.
Wolves are protected under California’s Endangered Species Act and are federally protected in California under the federal Endangered Species Act. It is illegal to intentionally kill or harm wolves in the state. For more information and to report potential sightings, please visit CDFW’s Gray Wolf Program webpage at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Gray-Wolf.
This is such wonderful, exciting news! Despite being hunted to near extinction, the mighty Gray Wolf has found her way back, and has extended her range southward!!
To see a Wolf in the wild, well, that would be a thrill of a lifetime. I wish her, her offspring, and the rest of the California pack continued good health, and hope they remain safe from humans with bad intentions.
I second Aquaholic’s well wishes to the pack. Hope they stay safe from cars too (I would assume that is of greater danger to them right now).
After all the warm fuzzy feelings wear off and people start to see the carnage that follows a pack of wolves, you might change your mind. It will start with big game animal population being reduced by the handfuls, followed by grazing animals privately owned by people whose livelihood depends on them. With a hands off order there will be nothing anyone can do legally. Same as it was when the DFG reestablished the mountain lion population. Just ask around how that turned out.
Most likely not. There was a substantial benefit to both animal populations and plant life in Yellowstone after the wolf was re-introduced there.
https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/wildlife/wolf-reintroduction-changes-ecosystem/
Not all wolves species are alike. You’re probably thinking of the Mackenzie wolf that was introduced (not reintroduced) in Idaho. The Mackenzie wolf is significantly larger and more aggressive than the wolves that inhabited Idaho historically. The Mackenzie wolf introduction was questioned before it happened, but stupider minds prevailed and now Idaho has a problem with the Mackenzie wolf that is bad for the environment. Had the proper species been reintroduced, I believe sentiment would be much kinder.
8OH – science disagrees with you. Suggest you read this article or watch the video:
https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/wildlife/wolf-reintroduction-changes-ecosystem/
These animals, have been hunted again, in Idaho , they made it here. Ran for their life’s .
Leave them alone. They are no different from other wild animals who survive on other animals. This is nature. We survive on animals.
Your pets should always be kept safe.
Don’t blame them for coming here.
This starts from somewhere else.
Look at our country and why the over crowding and taking over the land for wild life to live.
This conversation can go so far!
Please tell me , who and what is allowed to survive anymore? Because I see everyone thinks they have the right to determine this.
Now even the animals or insects or the free people cant speak now.
When I heard about the wolves being killed in Idaho , I did call the officials in Idaho and tell the wild life protection , nothing happened they pretended not to know , but the people Idaho were given permission to shot them , pretty sickening. You have to fight now , because too many people are brain washed to follow the crowd. Just listen to the news, who has rights and what is allowed to survive ? Never jump on the bandwagon . Ok, I’m done! Just leave these wolfs alone.