April 15–A lone gray wolf crossed into Northern California from Oregon two years ago, becoming the first of its kind in the state in decades.
Since then, the wolf, known as OR7, has come and gone, staying mostly in southern Oregon. But even his somewhat brief appearances have sparked debate among those who would welcome a comeback and those who would be less than thrilled with one.
On Wednesday, the debate will come to Ventura, when the state Fish and Game Commission is asked to decide whether to list the gray wolf as a threatened or endangered species.
“For whatever reason, this creature sparks this immediate response and emotional response,” said Karen Kovacs, a wildlife program manger with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Our vocal public either loves this animal incredibly so, or they hate it.”
To some, the wolves represent a charismatic symbol of wilderness, a social critter that lives with a pack and shares some traits with a domesticated dog.
Others see the wolf as a predator, dangerous to livestock and the bottom line, a villain from childhood fairy tales.
The commission meeting’s beachside, Southern California location may seem like an odd spot so far from the fray, but officials say it was just a matter of timing. The commission meets in spots throughout the state during the year, and the April meeting was set for Ventura.
The local chapter of the Sierra Club has gotten involved and has scheduled an early morning rally in favor of the listing before the meeting.
Gray wolves are starting to come back into California, said Jim Hines, who leads conservation efforts for the Los Padres chapter of the Sierra Club. “We should be ready,” he said.
In 2012, several wildlife and environmental groups submitted a petition to the Fish and Game Commission to list the gray wolf as endangered, calling it a critical first step in development of a management plan.
“OR-7 has demonstrated that wolves can still move quickly across the landscape and that suitable habitat still exists in California,” the petition states.
State officials decided a study was warranted, but after their review, have recommended against such a listing. There is inadequate scientific information to assess gray wolf population trends or its range, or to draw conclusions about immediate or serious threats to the species in California, the report says.
Even without state protection, it would be illegal to kill OR7 or any gray wolf in California. That’s because the gray wolf currently is protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.
That could change, however, because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed delisting the gray wolf based on its recovery in Western states.
If the gray wolf loses that federal standing, state officials have recommend it get immediate protection under state codes, even if the commission decides against the listing.
Officials also are completing a gray wolf management plan for when, and if, wolves move into California.
A variety of groups are participating in that process, from the California Cattlemen’s Association to the
California Wolf Center.
Lauren Richie, the wolf center’s director of California wolf recovery, said her group supports developing the plan. But she also wants to see the gray wolf listed in the state.
“We think it’s the best way to ensure that wolves have a good chance of recovery here in California,” Richie said.
Other groups, however, say they are concerned that listing a species will mean protecting the wolf over their livestock and business.
“As an industry and association, we’re concerned with any predator species to cattle or sheep being given any kind of special status or special protection,” said Jack Hanson, treasurer of the California Cattlemen’s Association.
“Our primary concern as we go down this road is just to make sure the numbers remain manageable,” said Hanson, of Willow Creek Ranch in Lassen County.
In recent years, gray wolves have established populations in Washington and Oregon. With those populations expanding, it’s not unlikely that wolves would move into California.
OR7 is considered a dispersing animal. “He went off looking for greener pastures,” Kovacs said.
Oregon officials were watching his movements through his radio collar. When he started heading south, they told officials here, giving them access to the data.
OR7 started moving toward California in fall 2011. But it was months before he made it into the state.
California Fish and Wildlife already had a website ready to go and some plans in place, knowing there would be high interest from the public and likely controversy.
The agency expects to have the gray wolf management plan ready for public review by late 2014.
Click here for more information on gray wolves.
To go
The California Fish and Game Commission meeting is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza, 450 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura.
Click here for an agenda.