Welcoming More Wolves; New Wolf Pack Spotted In Lassen National Forest

As more wolves have headed into the Golden State after a long absence, there is concern about what kind of impact the increase in predators could have. Reporter Curtis Alexander of the San Francisco Chronicle has details on the latest pack discovery and what effects these lupine critters could have going forward:

The recently discovered pack was confirmed on trail-camera footage in Lassen National Forest. It consists of at least two adults and two pups, according to state officials, providing yet more evidence that wolves appear to be in California to stay.

While ecologically remarkable, the comeback of the storied predator remains fraught with questions about how a creature that’s emblematic of the state’s iconic wildness can be accommodated in a landscape now dominated by humans. It’s a tension that goes beyond wolves: In the face of development and the pressures of climate change, California and the West have struggled to find a place for many species, from salmon and smelt to eagles and condors to beavers and bighorn sheep.

The challenge is only compounded with an apex carnivore, and few conjure the angst evoked by an animal sometimes vilified as the big bad wolf.

“I’m beyond frustrated. I’m pissed off,” said Dan Greenwood, one of the ranchers who showed up at the Audubon Society event. Last year, Greenwood began seeing concerning numbers of wolves near his cattle east of Quincy, and already he counts more than 25 dead cows and calves due to the new predator, two lost within days of the forum. “The rest of the state doesn’t see this. They hear about the wolves, and it sounds great, but they’re not the ones that have to live with them.”

Alexander’s story is a great read, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has been updating wolf sightings and behavior on its website.