It was early morning in California when Axel Hunnicutt set out to find wolves. He was howling in hopes of getting a response from the animals. Hunnicutt, the gray wolf coordinator for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, was on a mission to track the newly formed Ashpan pack, which has at least two wolves in eastern Shasta County. This week, the department announced the discovery of three new wolf packs in the state, bringing the total to ten.
The new packs include the Ashpan pack, the Ishi pack in eastern Tehama County, and the Tunnison pack in central Lassen County. Experts estimate that California now has over 70 wolves, a significant increase from just one pack five years ago. Hunnicutt, who started his day at 5 a.m., was eager to gather more information about these wolves to help manage their growing population.
The main goal of Hunnicutt and his team is to capture one of the wolves and fit it with a GPS collar. This collar would help track the wolf’s movements, especially to alert livestock owners about potential risks. With more wolves in the area, there have been increasing reports of attacks on livestock. Between January and March of this year, there were 26 cases of livestock depredation being investigated, with wolves confirmed to be involved in 16 of those incidents.
While conservationists are pleased with the wolves’ resurgence, many ranchers are concerned. Kirk Wilbur, vice president of the California Cattlemen’s Association, highlighted the emotional toll on ranchers who fear for their livestock. Shasta County recently declared a state of emergency due to the increasing wolf activity, joining four other counties in the region.
To address ranchers’ concerns, the state has implemented measures such as an online map showing the locations of GPS-collared wolves. This resource aims to help ranchers avoid conflicts with wolves. The wildlife department is also considering stricter methods to deter wolves, including non-lethal ammunition.
Despite the challenges, Hunnicutt remains optimistic about the wolves’ future. He believes that with the right protections, the population can thrive. However, he cautioned that a sudden decline could jeopardize the ten existing packs. A population of around 150 wolves would be considered more stable, allowing for potential relaxation of protections.
As Hunnicutt continued his search for the Ashpan pack, he found tracks and fresh signs of their presence, indicating that the wolves might be denning nearby. This time of year is crucial for wolf reproduction, making it easier to locate them. Hunnicutt expressed his passion for this work, eager to learn more about these remarkable animals and support their recovery in California.