More Packs Of Wolves Littering Northern California

Wolves continue to grow exponentially in the Golden State. Here’s more from the Sacramento Bee on the new packs sprouting up:

The new packs, spotted in Shasta, Tehama and Lassen counties, bring the total in the state to 10, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday. Because each is led by a mated pair, the new Ashpan, Ishi and Tunnison packs could contribute to the state’s growing wolf population, now estimated at up to 70 animals.

“How wonderful to witness another year of continued growth in California’s recovering wolf population,” Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. “It’s inspiring to watch this renaissance, and we should do everything we can to ensure California’s wolves have every chance to thrive.”

Many Californians were fascinated when the first gray wolf, OR-7, crossed into California from Oregon in 2011, and watched eagerly as their numbers began to climb. The young male was the first wild wolf spotted in the state since 1924, when the animals were essentially hunted out of existence.