Siskiyou’s ‘Lone Wolf’ Actually Has a Family

Press release from the Department of Fish and Wildlife:

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has photographic evidence of five gray wolf pups and two adults in Northern California.

Wolf Pups  JPG

After trail cameras recorded a lone canid in May and July, CDFW deployed additional cameras, one of which took multiple photos showing five pups, which appear to be a few months old and others showing individual adults. Because of the proximity to the original camera locations, it is likely the adult previously photographed in May and July is associated with the group of pups.

“This news is exciting for California,” said Charlton H. Bonham, CDFW Director. “We knew wolves would eventually return home to the state and it appears now is the time.”

Wolf 1

CDFW has designated this group (comprised of two adults and five pups) the Shasta Pack.

Wild wolves historically inhabited California, but were extirpated. Aside from these wolves and the famous wolf OR7 who entered California in December 2011, the last confirmed wolf in the state was here in 1924. OR7 has not been in California for more than a year and is currently the breeding male of the Rogue Pack in southern Oregon.

Wolf 2

In June 2014, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to list gray wolves as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act. The gray wolf is also listed as endangered in California, under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. Gray wolves that enter California are therefore protected by the ESA making it illegal to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect wolves, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct in California.

CDFW is completing a Draft Wolf Management Plan and will release it soon. Throughout the plan’s development, CDFW has held numerous meetings with stakeholders. Currently, CDFW is incorporating comments from a stakeholder advisory group, and considering revisions due to implications of this news, before releasing the draft plan to the general public. Public meetings will be scheduled to receive public comment on the draft plan.

In addition to the trail cameras, CDFW relies on help from the public to glean information about wolves in California. The public can report wolf sightings on CDFW gray wolf website atwww.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Gray-Wolf/Sighting-Report.

Though wolves rarely pose a direct threat to human safety, CDFW recommends that people never approach, feed or otherwise disturb a wolf. For more information about staying safe in wolf-occupied areas, including what people should do if they encounter a wolf, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Gray-Wolf/FAQ.

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Laurie Jensen
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Laurie Jensen
8 years ago

I sure hope nobody goes out and kills these beautiful creatures!!! They are a part of our eco-system!!! Unlike the rumors people spread, they DO NOT kill for fun, only to survive!!! Sure hope they can live a long and healthy life Sending Wolf-prayers to help them on their journey!!!

V man
Guest
V man
8 years ago
Reply to  Laurie Jensen

We are part of their ecosystem, is more like it. And we are the ones that haven’t been fitting in correctly. If they can stick to deer and stay away from livestock, they have a chance. I hope it works out.

nines
Guest
8 years ago

Not as lonely as we thought, then! Good news.

LAZY SKUNK RANCH
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LAZY SKUNK RANCH
8 years ago

California Department Of Wildlife faking a moon landing…
Ya know? Bet they are going to need some type of tax on rural property to protect these “wolves”, or put meters on wells.
Next season they will claim to find a magic unicorn that asks property owners to fill up a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow to keep The Wizard Of Oz happy.

Yawn….

Yea, sure…wolves.

go canids
Guest
go canids
8 years ago

Great to see!!! Wolves are key to natural selection of their prey as they take weaker animals. Most folks think they target livestock yet it has been shown over and over that packs of previously domesticated dogs kill way more livestock. They will attack and kill but not consume the animal whereas a wolf pack eats their prey. Wolves kill to survive, not for sport. Also they will not cross a Llama, especially when they spit!
It sounds funny but works, and llamas will roam with whatever livestock they are with. I bet coyotes get to livestock as well and they are very abundant in the hills.

West
Guest
8 years ago

Wow you never get out of California! In the most populated state in the West, where is the Wild habitat to Support Wolves?? Wolves need a large Area to roam, when they cross paths with Humans and their Livestock/Property the Wolves loose. Wolves are indiscriminate Killers to Survive; , Sheep , Llamas, Horses, Large Elk , your Cats when they are hungry. They are Pack animals and run down their Prey and Rip it apart. Not just the Old or Young, Apex predators ; where are they going to Survive in California?

LAZY SKUNK RANCH
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LAZY SKUNK RANCH
8 years ago
Reply to  West

They don’t because this isn’t even real. Betcha $5 this “wolf thing” is going to simply be another tax on rural property owners.

Moon landings seem to happen more and more often as deflation makes it harder for government to prop up it’s pyramid scam of pensions and spending.

Montana
Guest
Montana
8 years ago

When protected they overpopulated and wipe out all the wildlife, areas in Montana were once plentiful with white tail,mule deer and elk.They had to start hunting them due to quick overpopulation.Them returning to California will eventually be a bad thing.

Kim
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Kim
8 years ago

The return of the wolf to California is the best news of the century!