Earlier today, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to protect gray wolves under the California Endangered Species Act. This is terrific news for wolves, as many experts expect populations of this native California species to reenter the state in the coming years – something that was made even more likely by the other news today: a wolf den with pups was documented less than fifty miles from the Northern California border! The father is OR7, the Oregon wolf who famously crossed the California border and spent months in the Golden State last year in search of a mate (he eventually found one back in Oregon last month). Here is a photo of OR7's new pups peeking out from a log (photo courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service):
Thanks to today’s vote, if the pack ever decides to come down to California again, they will be just a little bit safer. Our deepest thanks to the more than 12,000 California BioGems Defenders who answered our call and made your voices heard that this native species belongs back here in California!