The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recently completed helicopter capture operations that resulted in satellite collars being fitted on five gray wolves in Northern California.
Conducted Jan. 12-20 across Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou and Tehama counties, the effort focused on wolves from the Whaleback and Harvey packs. Biologists collected measurements, DNA and blood samples to monitor health, disease risk and genetic relationships before releasing the animals near their capture sites. One adult female from the Harvey Pack died after capture, and the cause remains under investigation. Thirteen wolves now carry active collars statewide.
The Los Angeles Times reported on Feb. 7 that a collared 3-year-old female, BEY03F, had recently dispersed into northern Los Angeles County, marking the first confirmed wolf presence there in more than a century.
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