The Buckingham

For nearly a century, gray wolves have not been seen in the state of California, but recently OR7, a lone gray wolf, has wandered into the state, alarming ranch owners across the state.  They do not see the return of this predator as a good sign like most environmentalists do.

OR7, and two and a half year old male gray wolf, came from a pack in Wallowa County in Oregon, where researchers began tracking him with a GPS collar.  Right now he is the only one of his kind in California, and thus environmentalists are not worried about his hunting patterns, as he will probably feed on carcasses since he is alone.

Ranchers of the state are not so sure of how well their animals will fare against the gray wolves if this one loner brings in a pack.  One rancher, Jack Hanson, claims that if there were no regulations he and his family would shoot the wolf to ensure he does not reproduce and bring back gray wolves to the state.

Unfortunately for Mr. Hanson and others who feel the way he does, there are regulations.  Gray wolves are deemed an endangered species in the state of California under the Endangered Species Act.  The reason this came to be is because back in 1924 hunters killed the last wolf in the state, an act that came around during a time when people were convinced that wolves were vicious man-eaters that had to be stopped.

Biologists do not know if the wolf will remain in California or wander back to its original home in Oregon, or even if it will continue on to Nevada.  OR7’s travels are typical behavior in male wolves his age who are seeking a new pack or even a mate.  State regulators say they do not have a management plan for the protection of the wolves nor do they intend to actively reintroduce the animals to the state, but they do remain protected under federal law.