For the first time in its history, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is using helicopters to collar gray wolves in the region, launching the initiative this week.
As the conflict between cattle ranchers and wolves grows, CDFW depredation reports confirming at least five wolf kills in the Whaleback area in January, with a possible 6th, along with the size of the packs growing exponentially, a record eight confirmed pups born to the Whaleback pack last year alone, the need to learn more about the two co-existence is critical.
The capture teams will focus on wolves in the Whaleback Pack in Siskiyou County and the Lassen Pack in Lassen and Plumas counties, where no wolves have functioning GPS collars. The collars can transmit data to CDFW scientists twice daily for up to two years, providing information on movements, habitat preferences, and location. This information can help reduce conflicts between wolves and nearby cattle and sheep ranchers.
Recent attempts to capture and collar California wolves from the ground have been unsuccessful; helicopter captures are an added effort that will be adapted to increase success. The practice is common in other neighboring states like Washington and Oregon.
The CDFW will also capture and collar mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk to enhance their knowledge of distribution, abundance, migration patterns, recruitment, survival, and habitat use. The captures will take place on lands managed by the Forest Service and private properties with landowners’ permission.
The CDFW has contracted with Leading Edge Aviation to conduct the helicopter captures throughout Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, and Siskiyou counties. CDFW environmental scientists and veterinary staff will offer support on the ground.
Operations are expected to continue throughout the month.
Photo: CDFW photo of a gray wolf in northeastern California, part of the Lassen Pack
