Are Wolves Moving Back Into California?
A photo of OR-93, a gray wolf seen in California, shared by the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife/Handout
A gray wolf named OR-93 was spotted in Ventura County, California. He is a young adult male originally from Oregon. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced in a statement on Friday that the young male gray wolf — who started his life near Mount Hood in northern Oregon before crossing the state line, three California freeways, and passing near Yosemite and the Bay Area — may now be roaming Ventura County in Southern California. OR-93 has spent over a year traveling through this strenuous journey. From September 20th and the 26th, CDFW received multiple reports of a gray wolf with a purple collar in Ventura County. Fish and Wildlife officers were able to confirm these reports from wolf tracks. CDFW made statements saying, “We may attempt to capture and re-collar the wolf to continue tracking its journey.”
California Fish and Wildlife made the statement - “We’re thrilled to hear that OR-93 is likely alive and exploring Ventura County after not hearing from him for months,” Amaroq Weiss, senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. “This beautiful wolf’s amazing adventure shows the world what intrepid animals they are. We propose a toast to OR-93 and to California for providing wolves the protections they need to make such a remarkable journey.”
Sightings this far south have not happened since 1922 in San Bernardino County. Historically they were hunting and pushed out of California.
In August, CDFW received trail camera video from May 15 showing a collared gray wolf in southwest Kern County.
If you or anyone you know has spotted a wolf you can report it here: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Gray-Wolf/Sighting-Report