This post is connected to a photo of a Mexican Gray Wolf. That particular animal was photographed at a facility that partciipated in the recovery program for that subspecies of wolf. At the time of the photograph that animal was captive. I do not know if that wolf was ever released or if continued to be a breeding animal.
Of all the things I have seen or done as naturalist, seeing a Mexican Gray Wolf that was helping restore that species was in the top 3. I have been obsessed with wolves my entire life. When I was a kid, the wolf was gone from the lower 48 states. You could not even find them in Yellowstone. I got to see four wolves when I was in Alaska and that was powerful even for a 9 year old. As I grew up, the wolves began making a comeback. Once the reintroduction began, they slowly spread out into their former range. The plan to retore the Mexican Wolf began too.The effort has been slow and cautious but there are wolves in the Southwest. My kids got to see the Mexican Gray Wolves when they were 9 and 10 which was just an awesome experience. Around that time, a wild Gray Wolf entered California and a new chapter in my life began.
Or-7 was the first wolf to enter California in 80 years and he became a rock star. He hung around Northern California for two years. My kids and I followed the updates from the state web site and we often made trip in the mountains to our north and east. We never saw him but we were close once in Modoc county. We decided we were going to dedicate ourselves to see wolves in the state and we prepared for the long wait to see them. Or-7 eventually settled in southern Oregon when he finally found a mate. That pack, the Rouge River Pack, has been successful and have had a dozen or so pups. Or-7 is still alive though his radio collar batteries died. Every once in awhile he does show up on trail camera. At least sight he looked absolutely magnificent.
Over the last 3 years a handful of collared wolves have roamed the state as singles. A pack was discovered in the area north west of us then it was lost. A few of Or-7's pups have made it to the state too which had brought my kids a lot of joy. The wolves eluded us thus far but my kids and I have retained our excitement for the search for wolves.
Then in 2017, a pack was discovered in my neck of the state. They are the Lassen Pack and they are firmly established, for the time being, in the mountains exactly east of us. Through my job, I have been lucky enough to have talked with CDFW and I learned about the fascinating story of that pack. It is just a matter of time now before my kids and find them. It may be just a few tracks to start but I really believe we will see those wolves. It may be a glance a year from now but it will be a truly amazing event for us.
For the moment, I can only say it will be an informal citizen science survey. It may end up a bit more formalized and academic in nature. I also does not matter what kids of study it ends up being. The goal is to successfully finish the family project we started 7- 8 years ago. A labor of family love for wolves. I can not think of a better way to spend the next year of my life !
Also if you read this and you think you see a wolf or find evidence of a wolf in California, contact the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, North Region office. Citizen reporting helps the state with understanding what the population is and where they are living.
