Outside of his work in the data analytics sector, Brian Richmond has a deep interest in the natural world. In addition to hiking and backpacking popular California trails, Brian Richmond enjoys learning about the state’s native animals.
Native to California, grey wolves were nearly driven to extinction by hunters in the 1920s. From 1924 until 2011, no grey wolves resided within the state. Since the first wolf entered from Oregon in 2011, only two packs have established themselves: the Shasta pack, which subsequently died out, and the Lassen pack.
Recently, the Lassen pack added three new pups to the family. Wildlife experts now estimate the California grey wolf population to be between seven and ten. While efforts to increase grey wolf numbers have been fruitless, the new pups’ arrival brings new hope to the state’s repopulation program.
Grey wolves are an endangered and protected species under both California and federal law. However, they have been removed from the federal endangered list in regions with larger wolf populations, such as the Northern Rockies. However, even those populations need our protection to survive and thrive in the long term.
You must be logged in to post a comment.