22-05-2025
CDFW Releases New Wolf Map
( — The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has released a new map that tracks the movement of collared gray wolves.
'Our main goal was to help support our livestock producers in northeastern California,' said Peter Tira, spokesperson for CDFW. 'Knowledge is power.'
The system tracks and collects the approximate location of 14 GPS-collared wolves four times a day, though CDFW said there are dozens of wolves in the area.
Amaroq Weiss with the Center for Biological Diversity said this new coexistence tool is helpful for all Californians.
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'Wolf conflicts are rare in any state with wolves, but both ranchers and wolves will benefit if we can make those conflicts even more rare by giving a heads-up when wolves are in the area,' Weiss said.
When viewing the map, not all 14 trackers may appear. CDFW explains this may be due to collars falling off, malfunctions, animals moving beyond the range of active cells, or even crossing state borders.
But for ranchers and officials dealing with gray wolves on a daily basis, these maps confirm what they already know.
'The map is a good start- it's got some bugs, but I want to say that Fish and Wildlife is trying to put something out there,' said Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue.
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Sheriff LaRue and Sierra County Sheriff Mike Fisher, who have been at the forefront of the issue, say fewer than a handful of wolves in their counties are currently being tracked.
'If there isn't a GPS reading on a particular ranch, that doesn't mean wolves aren't present—it just means that one of the three collared wolves isn't on that ranch,' Sheriff Fisher told FOX40.
'We've estimated 70-plus wolves in our community,' Sheriff LaRue added.
The Sheriffs from Plumas and Lassen counties have joined them in meeting with the California Natural Resources Secretary and the Director of CDFW on Wednesday in Sacramento to discuss wolf management.
They said the meeting brought hope.
'We discussed various options today on, you know, hazing, and various plans,' Sheriff Fisher said.
'I felt refreshed a little bit and reassured that we are going to be heading in the right direction,' said Sheriff LaRue.
The Sheriffs are scheduled to meet with state officials again next week to discuss next steps.
'What I would like [residents] to know is that their local representatives, both their Board of Supervisors and their elected Sheriffs, are down here in Sacramento meeting with those who have the ability to effect change on the management,' Sheriff Fisher concludes. ' It was a very productive meeting.'
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