California’s wolf packs
California has a growing number of gray wolves howling in the wild and have been tracked for more than a dozen years.
Gray wolves are native to California, but starting in the mid-19th century, European colonizers started hunting wolves to protect livestock. By the 1920s, wolves had been completely removed from the state. In 2011, that changed.
The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is a recovering endangered species protected under the California Endangered Species Acts and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Endangered Species Act.
In 2011, a male wolf, part of a 2009 Oregon litter and tagged OR-7, entered California and became the first wolf to enter the state since 1924. OR-7 traveled thousands of miles through California before finally settling back in Oregon with a mate. Several wolves from that pairing have migrated and settled in California.
According to the California Fish and Wildlife’s latest report released this month, a total of nine gray wolf packs have been monitored in California. Wolf packs are defined as two or more wolves traveling together and using the same area within a given period of time. Axel Hunnicutt, the state gray wolf coordinator says, “The wolves mate in late winter and pups are born in April and May. The packs are on the move in September. Verification is done by sightings reported and trail cameras. We are in the field almost year-round. Our goal is to have at least one collar on a wolf in each pack, especially where livestock may be at risk.”
In 2021, the California state Legislature appropriated $3 million to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop a Wolf-Livestock Compensation Pilot Program to help minimize the impact of wolves on livestock. The funds exhausted in March, but $600,000 was recently approved for the program. Gray wolves are carnivores. Their primary prey sources are large native species, mainly elk and deer. Wolves will also consume other mammals, birds, and reptiles. They will opportunistically scavenge carrion, and may prey on large livestock under certain circumstances.
Human Safety
Hunnicutt says, “Wolves rarely pose a direct threat to human safety. Wild wolves generally fear and avoid people.” It is important to know how to avoid contact with wild animals before entering their habitat. In the past 40 years, 18 reports of wolf aggression toward humans have been reported. Eleven of those reports involved wolves habituated to humans and six involved domestic dogs. In recent years there was one confirmed human mortality in Alaska by wolves.
If you have a close encounter with a wolf or wolves, do not run. Maintain eye contact.
Act aggressively; make noise while retreating slowly.
If the wolf does not retreat, continue acting aggressively by yelling or throwing objects.
Why they hoooooooowwllll
Wolves howl to communicate their location to other pack members and to ward off rivaling packs from their territory. It’s also been found that wolves will howl to their own pack members out of affection, as opposed to anxiety. Wolf packs tend to claim large territories for themselves, especially if prey is scarce.
Where wolves?
This California Fish and Wildlife map released this month displays the approximate boundaries of known resident California wolf pack territories based on the best available data (e.g., GPS collar locations, trail camera images, tracks and confirmed sightings). Areas of wolf activity are the approximate locations where two or more wolves have been detected but reproduction or persistent use of a specific area has not yet been documented. The locations of dispersing wolves are not included, as dispersing wolves travel widely and their movements are unpredictable.
Report suspected or confirmed dead wolves immediately to the CDFW at 530-225-2300 or californiawolfsightings@wildlife.ca.gov.Adult wolves can weigh up to 120 pounds and stand 26-34 inches at the shoulder. Their coat is usually grizzled gray, but can be mostly or all black. The tail hangs down or straight, but never curled. Wolf tracks may be up to 4 inches wide and 5 inches long.
Wolves are by nature territorial and will defend their territories, especially against dogs and coyotes. They can view domestic dogs as competitors, territorial intruders or prey. Dog owners must be aware of the potential risk to their dogs if they are in wolf habitat, especially when guarding or herding livestock, hunting, accompanying hikers or running.
Take precautions to limit potential conflicts:
Place a bell or beeping collar on dogs that roam
Talk loudly to the dog and/or use whistles
You can learn more and subscribe to updates here.
Sources: Axel Hunnicutt State Gray Wolf Coordinator for California Fish and Wildllife, wildcalifornia.org