Conserving wolves: there are now more satellite-collared wolves in California than ever before, wildlife department says
The milestone means officials can more easily monitor and understand wolf packs in the state so that their populations can thrive.
California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced that there are now more satellite-collared wolves in California than ever before.
The milestone comes after the department’s capture of 12 gray wolves in northern California last month, who were collared and released back into the wild.
“The captures exceeded our expectations and will enhance our ability to monitor our wolf population both for conservation and recovery and also to help mitigate conflict with livestock,” Axel Hunnicutt, CDFW’s Statewide Gray Wolf Coordinator, said in a statement.
A contracted aircraft and an expert capture crew were required to capture the 12 wolves, who came from a variety of packs including the Beyem Seyo pack in Sierra County, the Harvey pack in Lassen County, and the Whaleback pack in Siskiyou County.
“Having multiple collars in each of these packs, especially those on younger wolves, will not only aid current studies looking at diet and land-use preferences, but also will provide data on when and where they disperse when leaving their packs,” Hunnicutt said.
During their capture, biologists also recorded biometric data from the wolves along with body measurements and samples including DNA and blood, which allows the CDFW to monitor the animals for diseases and evaluate the relatedness of individuals and packs.
After being collared, the wolves, seven females and five males, were then released back at their initial capture locations.
According to the CDFW, satellite-collaring gray wolves is an important management and research tool to also help monitor populations and minimize livestock conflicts.
While the collars do not provide real-time data, they transmit wolf locations to the CDFW several times a day. The batteries in the collar are expected to last about two to three years, and are programmed to drop off the animal before the battery is depleted.
Currently there are seven wolf packs in California. Nine were reported in the fall of 2024. The sudden drop is not unusual or immediately concerning however, as the CDFW say wolf packs are “fluid”, and point out an example of how the Beyem Seyo and Antelope packs recently merged.
Anti-predator hysteria and misinformation could decimate America’s gray wolf population if this important native species is not protected. Add your name to the Species Unite petition to Secretary Burgum urging him to relist wolves under the Endangered Species Act. Sign the petition here.
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