OR93 Found Dead in Kern County
On November 10, OR93 was found dead near Interstate 5 near the town of Lebec, California. Following a full investigation and necropsy, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has determined that the wolf died from trauma consistent with vehicular strike and does not suspect foul play.
On the afternoon of November 10, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife received a phone call from a truck driver who witnessed the deceased wolf along a dirt trail near a frontage road running parallel to I-5. A CDFW warden responded to the scene to collect the carcass which was quickly identified as OR93 because of its collar.
The carcass was transported to the Wildlife Health Laboratory in Rancho Cordova, California where a complete necropsy was performed. The wolf had significant tissue trauma to the left rear leg and a dislocated knee as well as soft tissue trauma to the abdomen. The injuries were deemed to be caused by a vehicle strike.
Young gray wolves can disperse very long distances from their natal area and OR93 is no exception. Before his demise, he was documented traveling the farthest south in California since wolves returned to the state, which is historically wolf habitat. The last documented wolf that far south was captured in San Bernardino County in 1922.
OR93 was a male wolf born in 2019. He dispersed from the White River pack in northern Oregon. When his collar was providing information, he was tracked entering Modoc County on January 30, 2021. After briefly returning to Oregon, he reentered Modoc County on February 4. On February 24, he entered Alpine County after passing through portions of Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador and Calaveras counties. On February 25, he entered Mono County. In mid-March, he was in western Tuolumne County. By late March he was in Fresno County, and then entered San Benito County after crossing Highway 99 and Interstate 5. He was in Monterey County on April 1 and his last collar transmission was from San Luis Obispo County on April 5. Through April 5 he had traveled at least 935 air miles in California, a minimum average of 16 air miles per day.
CDFW strongly encourages the public to be aware that the wolf population continues to grow in California and to know the difference between wolves and coyotes. Though gray wolves are generally much bigger than coyotes, they can sometimes be misidentified. We encourage the public to review this wolf identification page which provides tips for differentiating between wolves, coyotes and dogs.
Gray wolves are listed as endangered pursuant to California’s Endangered Species Act (CESA). It is unlawful to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap or capture gray wolves. Anyone who believes they have seen a wolf in California can report it to CDFW at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/
Mammals/Gray-Wolf/Sighting- Report. Gray wolves pose very little safety risk to humans. CDFW is working to monitor and conserve California’s small wolf population and is collaborating with livestock producers and diverse stakeholders to minimize wolf-livestock conflicts.
Gray wolf management in California is guided by CESA as well as CDFW’s Conservation Plan for Gray Wolves in California, finalized in 2016. More information is available on CDFW’s wolf webpage at: wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/
mammals/gray-wolf.
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What a shame!!! :-C
I’ve never heard “foul play” attributed to the investigation of an animal.
Roads are animal killers.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because there was a wolf chasing it.
Maybe they suspected, “fowl play”?
Exsqueeze me a moment, I need to roll up my pantlegs, it’s getting a little deep in here!!! ;op Bad puns seem to stack up quicker!!!
NO, Why did the chicken cross the road? Because the farmer had foul overhauls!!
In the old days there was a saying – “Thde only good wolf is a dead wolf”. And as they say now a days, “Shoot, shovel, and shut up.” Next thing you know these “environmentalists” will want to bring back the Grizzly.
If they don’t reintroduce Grizzlies they should at least take it off of the California flag.
Waving shame at us every day
Apparently you don’t like taking a stroll through the woods . . They were wiped out for a reason.
If you want to see a Grizzly, try trout fishing along a brushy stream in Montana.
I have. It’s great. I’d be fine with a grizzly or two
Better yet, go trout fishing in Alaska if you want to fish with the bears. That will also give the bears another food source – you.
I thought that was an 1800’s Republican flippin us off
They are all tagged, if you kill one you will be in trouble no matter what it’s doing, running over one is plausible.
Those who support immigration may want to consider the plight of the tiger. Many are in constant danger in their home countries and should be candidates for asylum.
I would drive extra carefully to avoid hitting a tiger.
Has become a common subject of wolf death investigations.
So many people believe the myth that wolves are the main problem with predation of livestock.
Just not true…is the coyotes mostly…upwards of 95-99%.
Human on wolf predation in the lower 48 started again as soon as wolves were reintroduced.
I’m a fan of the wolf and I have livestock.
If a wolf killed your livestock, would you still be a “fan” of the wolf ?
Yes. A cougar tried to kill one of our foals. I still like mountain lions. Vigilance is just part of living in the wilds.
What form does your Vigilance take?
What rymes with “Wild in the house” for $500.00, Alex.
If a wolf had tried to kill you, or had threatened your children, would you still be a fan?
I am not.
The part that I am not a fan is the part that decisions are made in urban places who never will likely have to bear the consequences. The part that can not be reasonable and talks in absolutes.
Wolf on human predation has never been a commonality.
There are stats and reports going back to the 1500-1600s for North America.
Nearly every wolk attack on humans was accomplished by RABID wolves.
Literally nearly every attack was followed by the human survivors dying of rabies.
The fear mongering over wolves is not supported by facts.
But if you prefer to “believe” the fairy tales, making decisions based on facts isn’t your forte anyway.
When they are poisoned or shot by a bow and arrow or a rifle, hand gun or shot gun.
Yes, I know. I just have never heard DFW apply it to an animal.
I’m glad that thing is dead. So stupid to reintroduce a problematic animal. A stupid idea to introduce an animal that is going to do nothing but kill more animals. Must be a liberal idea.
You’re a problematic animal.
The endangered species act was signed into law by a Nixon, a republican.
Was a UNANIMOUS vote in the Senate.
390-12 in the House.
Ever heard of ecology?
Predators are natural controls on prey animals.
They reduce disease and limit overpopulation in all prey populations amongst many other natural jobs and benefits dingbats can’t even imagine.
You need to get educated.
But first that cranial rectosis will need treatment.
See the light not the bullshit.
Liberally applied willful ignorance is a cancer
Open hunting season reduces overpopulation also
Agreed , look up the CDFW hunting regs in California for coyotes. The wolves should not be treated differently
Agreed. Look up the CDFW hunting regulations on coyotes. Wolves shouldn’t be treated any differently
Not for Does.
In some states it “does”.
There is such thing as doe season in some states.
Human hunting is only seasonal now.
It does NOT fill in all the ecological gaps left by the lack of wolves.
The food/ecology web is far more complex than most can imagine
Humans are the Most problematic creatures! Destroying everything as we over populate & take over the earth.
That is why when the Singularity arrives, we will be wiped out.
I just figure I got left behind.
Yeah, now if we could just get rid of these stupid-assed Republicans who understand nothing and bitch about everything, TSTL.
Whiners are a drag.
Bunch a whiny neo-snowflakes
Not having wolves is why the Mountain Lion numbers are up. Both wolves and Mountain Lions feed on deer. Bastard deer eat all my apples and garden greens.
Protect your orchards from deer like you’d protect yourself from mountain lions. A bit of understanding of nature of the wild animal, a bit of caution up front about exposing them to food you supply and maintenance does wonders.
Yeah…anyone around here should know the virtues of having an 8′ garden fence.
Will keep most deer out with having a dog.
Add a dog and a 6′ fence is usually sufficient.
The more comfortable the deer are the higher a fence they will leap.
That’s life in the food chain.
would any of us wanna die this way ?
Hit by a car? Seems like a dumb question