By Matt Weiser
The Bee hosted an online chat Wednesday about the wild gray wolf, known as OR7, that migrated into California on Dec. 28 and is now in eastern Lassen County.
The expert guests were Mark Stopher, special assistant to the director of the California Department of Fish and Game; and Mike Long, chief of the listing and recovery division at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regional office in California.
The highlights of the discussion that follows include questions by sacbee.com readers using their online profile names. The full discussion is at www.sacbee.com/live.
>Weiser: Does California still have the right habitat and food to support wolves?
Stopher: While we currently have habitat that could support wolves, there is no way to predict how many we could have in the future. Ten years from now we may have resident wolves, and perhaps even a reproducing pack. In terms of numbers, however, we are probably talking less than 20 wolves and more likely, less than 10.
>Wolfmother: What would the penalties be if someone killed this animal in defense of their livestock?
Long: The wolf is protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. Penalties for unauthorized take are up to $100,000 and one year imprisonment. “Take” means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect, or attempt these.
>David Lawlor: How do we know OR7 is searching for a mate and why would he search for a mate in an area with no other wolves?
Stopher: We infer he is looking for a mate because his behavior is consistent with that of other wolves we have observed. Since younger animals are prevented from reproducing by the alpha male and female, they typically disperse looking for a mate or another pack to join.
>Amaroq Weiss: Is Fish and Wildlife considering a distinct population segment (DPS) for the gray wolf in the Pacific Western states (thus allowing unique management rules for these wolves)?
Long: The FWS is in the process of a status review of wolves in the Western states, including a possible DPS in the Pacific Northwest, which includes Northern California.
>Hollis: What does it take for California to introduce a female mate for OR7?
Long: OR7’s presence is part of normal dispersal behavior for wolves. The FWS has no plans to reintroduce wolves to California.
>Lawlor: If OR7 stays here, will he not end up alone? Is there a chance another wolf would follow his travel path and meet up with him?
Stopher: It’s pretty unlikely OR7 will find a mate. There could be other wolves in California, though we don’t have any direct evidence.
>Weiser: Is OR7 likely to consider mating with anything else, like a dog, dog hybrid, coyote? I’ve heard wolves generally avoid dogs.
Stopher: While wolves have mated with coyotes, dogs and wolfdog hybrids, it is very rare. Wolves will more likely ignore, or kill domestic dogs.
>Weiser: Do either of your agencies plan to pay OR7 a visit in the field? To check on his health, collect scat samples, or whatever?
Stopher: We may do a follow-up visit to the area he is currently using to learn what the attraction was. However, we likely will not visit until then to avoid attracting unwanted attention and we prefer not to disturb him so long as he is active.
>Guest: What can I do to deter gray wolves from coming around my ranch, and not get charged with hazing?
Long: There are methods for discouraging and reducing wolf activity. These include reducing possible sources of food such as disposed livestock carcasses, and surrounding carcass pits with predator-resistant fencing. Other methods include fencing livestock at night, and using livestock-guarding dogs.