Wildlife officials defeated 12 grey wolves in Northern California to better understand and manage the species that had revived in the state after being stained a century ago.
Golden State has more satellite-covered wolves (16) than ever before.
The revival of endangered apex predators has been praised as a conservation success story, but it has challenges, including an increase in attacks on cattle and other livestock.
“It really opens a lot of doors for us in terms of getting more data, providing more livestock producers with more in-depth research.” said Axel Honeycutt, California’s statewide Gray Wolf Coordinator. Fish and Wildlife Bureau.
The collars by the state agency were working together last month when air and ground teams worked together to capture Wolves, Lassen and Sierra Counties from a pack of packs with at least one previous collared wolves, authorities said. said the person.
CDFW biologists monitor captured grey wolves.
(Malia Byrtus / California Wolf Project / UC Berkeley)
According to Hunnicutt, the contracted helicopter team tracked radio frequencies emitted from the collar, essentially chasing wolves and sometimes cornered them from the sky.
The wolves flew to the base camp, where state crews were equipped with satellite collars and completed detailed examinations, including measuring their bodies and taking blood and DNA samples.
The animals were driven near where they were eventually captured and released.
Five wolves were captured from Beyem Seyopack in Sierra County. Five more people were captured from Harvey Pack in Lassen County. This includes what was previously a collar, two of which were captured from a whale backpack in Siskiyou County.
The number of captures exceeded expectations, Hunnicutt said. Of the recent collared wolves, four are adults, while the rest were born last year or a year before that year. Seven were women and five were male.
Hunnicutt said the unfolded collar would help state scientists track the state’s wolf population. This is estimated to be at least 70 in autumn last year, up from 44 in 2023.
It was important to successfully complete a considerable number of young wolves, he said. The pack is primarily made up of two adults and their descendants. Eventually the young wolves will disperse and try to form other packs.
The new collared wolves from the Beyem Seyo Pack in Sierra County are being released near where the helicopter team captured them.
(Malia Byrtus / California Wolf Project / UC Berkeley)
“The fact that we were able to get so many collars for young animals means we can learn more about where they are distributed,” and their survival potential said. “And for those starting a new pack, we already have collars in those packs from this effort.”
According to CDFW, California currently has seven known wolf packs, down from nine reported in the fall. The state agency said the packs could be fluid, noting that the two packs have recently merged.
The California grey wolf was hunted and trapped around 100 years ago, and in 1924 the last documented wild wolf was photographed.
The incredible national recolonization of the species began in 2011 when wolves in northeastern Oregon ventured through the state’s boundaries. He did not stay and the first verification pack had not been established until 2015.
Hunnicutt said the population began taking off a few years ago and is now ready for “nearly exponential” growth.
Conservationists view wolves’ comebacks as evidence of protection. They are listed as at risk under state and federal law.
Amalok Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biodiversity, a conservation group, said he had recently been using the collar as a way for state wildlife officials to monitor animals more carefully and inform the public about “magnificent species.” The effort was welcomed.
“The wolf recovery in our state is still in its early stages and more information is always welcome,” she said in a statement.
Veterinarian and biologist with CDFW monitor LAS23F, a wolf from Beyem Seyo Pack.
(Malia Byrtus / California Wolf Project / UC Berkeley)
Collared wolves are in areas where livestock conflicts occur recently, and tracking data is expected to shed light on their activities and provide ranchers with additional information to reduce conflict. Wolves can feast on cows and threaten the rancher’s livelihood.
“For example, this morning, we will send out rough spots in each area where the wolves live the night before and let them know. We want to deploy range riders or other non-lethal deterrents,” said Funicatt. said.
Livestock conflicts and other complex issues related to polarized species have encouraged the state’s wildlife agency to partner with UC Berkeley to conduct research that bridges knowledge gaps and guides management management. The multi-year California Wolf Project was launched last year and released its first annual report.
California wildlife officials recently said that Wolfpacks in the southernmost part of the state in Tulea County have suffered from irony, a disease caused by parasitic mites that can cause itchy skin lesions and hair loss. I’ve reported it.
Some wolves only experience mild symptoms and can survive by clearing the infection. However, others may suffer from severe illnesses characterized by massive hair loss, secondary bacterial infections, weakness, and ultimately death.
Mange is not uncommon and affects other Canids in the state, including Coyotes.
Hunnicutt said the pack changed its movement. This could be the fact that some wolves have lost quite a bit of hair. The animals moved into a warm valley.
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