CA's Well Traversed Wolf Found Dead After Record Breaking Trek

Los Angeles CA

24 November, 2021

7:56 PM

Description

LEBEC, CA — A certain plucky male gray wolf — that traveled the farthest south in the Golden State than any other gray wolf in nearly a century — was found dead, wildlife officials said Wednesday. The Oregon-born wolf was reportedly struck by a vehicle and was found by a truck driver who witnessed the dead wolf along a dirt trail near a frontage road paralleling Interstate 5 in Kern County's town of Lebec, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement. A state wildlife warden responded to the scene to identify the wolf — named OR93 — by his collar. Gray wolves were listed as endangered in California, where they were wiped out in the 1920s. Officials said they do not suspect any foul play in the wolf's death. Before his death, wildlife officials tracked OR93's journey as he trekked the farthest south in California since wolves returned to the state, which is historically a wolf habitat. The last documented wolf spotted that far south was captured in San Bernardino County in 1922, wildlife officials said. "I'm devastated to learn of the death of this remarkable wolf, whose epic travels across California inspired the world," Amaroq Weiss, senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. "In this annual time of reflection, I thank him for the hope he gave us and for a brief glimpse into what it would be like for wolves to roam wild and free again," Weiss said. From February to April 5, OR93 pawed at least 935 air miles across the state — a minimum of 16 air miles per day, officials said. From February to April 5, the wolf pawed at least 935 air miles across the state — a minimum of 16 air miles per day, officials said. His collar went dark on April 5 but October reports of a wolf found in northern Ventura County matched his description, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The yearling gray wolf was first collared in June 2020 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in Oregon. In August, CDFW received a report from May 15, showing a collared gray wolf in southwest Kern County that could have been OR-93, but his identity wasn't confirmed. If an opportunity arises, wildlife officials said they would try to recollar and continue tracking the wolf. The young male wolf first left his pack along the White River in June of 2020, southeast of Mount Hood. "Like many young wolves, he subsequently left his pack in search of a new territory and/or a mate," officials from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement. Shortly after, he embarked on a 500-mile trek from Oregon to central Fresno County — each step chronicled by his GPS collar.OR-93 traveled from Mono County, through parts of Tuolumne, Mariposa, Merced and Madera counties, the state agency said.By late March, he had entered Fresno County, then moved to San Benito County. Experts believe he crossed two busy highways — Highway 99 and Interstate 5. He was tracked in Monterey on April 1. His journey marked the farthest south that any collared wolf has been tracked and a signal that gray wolves may be returning to their native lands in California. Gray wolves are rare in the Golden State these days and they haven't been around much since the 1920s. His appearance in San Luis Obispo County also marked the first time in a century that a gray wolf traipsed around California's Central Coast. Only about 12 gray wolves are roaming in California now of their own accord. Since, 2014, gray wolves have been federally listed as endangered, but effective Jan. 1, these wolves were taken off that list by the Trump administration. In California, gray wolves are still listed as endangered. "It is unlawful to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap or capture gray wolves," according to the state. It remains unclear just why wolves decide to leave California, according to the state agency. "There is no definitive answer," according to the department. "Studies demonstrate that human activity can have a negative impact on wolf populations, particularly where there are roads and agricultural activity." The agency added: "Wolves were likely killed to control predation on other animals. Other factors, including hunting, may have contributed to their extirpation from California." Anyone who believes they have seen a wolf in California can report it to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife here. "Gray wolves pose very little safety risk to humans," the department said. Another gray wolf reportedly hit the dusty trail on the heel's of OR-93 in May. The newly tracked male gray wolf, OR-103, was tagged with a GPS collar in Deschutes County, Ore. and entered northeastern Siskiyou County on May 4, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Officials estimate that he was born in 2019 or 2020. The Associated Press contributed to this report.