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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOregon’s Lone Wolf Has Pups as California Acts to Protect Species
Just weeks ago, news that Oregons lone wolf OR-7 may have found love after years of wandering alone caused some big excitement for his fans and wolf advocates, but now theres even more good news for both him and for gray wolves.
In May, hopes were raised that OR-7 had found a mate after he and an unknown black female were spotted by remote cameras in the same area of Oregons Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The sighting, and a decrease in his wandering, also raised suspicions that the two had denned somewhere and may have had a litter of pups who would have been born in April.
Yesterday, wildlife biologists from Oregons Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed in an announcement that OR-7 and his mate have indeed welcomed a litter of pups into the world. Only two pups were seen and photographed, but wildlife officials suspect there may be more.
The confirmation marks the first time wolves have been born in the Oregon Cascades since the early 20th century, making it another history-making adventure for OR-7. In 2011, the former loner became famous for becoming the first confirmed wolf west of the Cascades since the last wolf bounty was collected as part of a government-sponsored predator control program in 1947 and for being the first known wolf to venture into California since 1924.
Wolves once ranged widely in California but were persecuted, shot, poisoned and otherwise eradicated from the landscape almost 90 years ago. OR-7?s presence in the state raised hope that wolves would return, along with concerns about how the species would be managed if they did and the usual opposition from hunters and ranchers to giving them protected status.
The news that OR-7 has pups has raised even more hope from many that Oregons growing population will eventually make their way to the state and establish territories there. Thanks to the work of their advocates, they may now safely return.
http://www.care2.com/causes/oregons-lone-wolf-has-pups-as-california-acts-to-protect-species.html
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)DreamGypsy
(2,252 posts)Two of wolf OR7s pups peek out from a log on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest,
June 2, 2014. Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
...from the article:
According to the LA Times, commission President Michael Sutton summed up the outcome, stating: There is no more iconic animal in the American West than this one. We owe it to them to do everything we can to help them recolonize their historic range in our state.