Gray wolves born at California Wolf Center as wild counterparts make history in our state

JULIAN, CA

June 6, 2018 - At least two gray wolf puppies have been born at California Wolf Center. These two pups join their parents, Wintu and Yana, as part of the North American gray wolf pack residing at the nonprofit’s conservation center. Born on or around May 6th in a den dug by their parents, these two puppies represent a much larger story of conservation in our state. Gray wolves are returning to California after being eradicated by government run anti-predator campaigns in the 1920s.

California Wolf Center is a leader in wild wolf recovery throughout the Pacific West and the Southwest. The newly born puppies and their pack are part of educational programs hosted at the nonprofit’s conservation center in Julian, although they remain off exhibit at this time. Beyond their physical site, California Wolf Center staff also work in the field supporting communities living with returning wild wolf populations. Ranchers are the stewards of much of the open space where wild wolves have returned to and will return to in the future. California Wolf Center values building on common ground, so wolves, livestock and people can thrive on shared landscapes.

California Wolf Center’s Range Steward program is the first of its kind in the Golden State and is driven forward by a leadership team of Northern California ranchers. Range Stewards are trained ranchers working to rekindle the ‘herd instinct’ in cattle, thus reducing the chance of wolf-livestock conflict. These actions increase connection and tolerance of ranchers, ensuring livestock are safe and wolves achieve long term recovery.

The pups residing at California Wolf Center will continue to be cared for in as wild a way as possible allowing their relationships with their parents and each other to be the priority. These new additions join over twenty wolves living at California Wolf Center, many of which are part of the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan, a captive breeding and reintroduction program for the critically endangered Mexican gray wolf. With less than 150 individuals in the wild, California Wolf Center’s role in the program is crucial.

Litter of critically endangered wolf pups born in Julian, CA

JULIAN, CA

June 29, 2018 – California Wolf Center welcomes a litter of seven Mexican gray wolf pups. With less than 120 wild Mexican gray wolves in the US, these puppies are definitely a cause for celebration!

Since 1997, California Wolf Center has played an integral role in the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan, a captive breeding and host program intended to prevent the extinction of Mexican gray wolves. All Mexican gray wolves residing at California Wolf Center are candidates to be released into the wild through a reintroduction program managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Mexican gray wolf recovery efforts expand beyond the conservation center. California Wolf Center is one of only two organizations working with the Southwest community sharing the landscape with the returning wolf population. The nonprofit organization provides information, financial support and/or physical tools to ranchers stewarding the space where Mexican gray wolves reside to reduce potential wolf-livestock conflict. California Wolf Center values building on common ground, so wolves, livestock and people can thrive on shared landscapes.

This litter joins over twenty wolves living at California Wolf Center, many of which are part of the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan. An ambassador pack of North American gray wolves also resides at the conservation center helping to educate the public on California wolf recovery.

Wolves are making their way back to the Golden State after being absent for nearly a century. California Wolf Center is a leader in wild wolf recovery throughout the Pacific West, establishing a one-of-its-kind grassroots program to support and empower Northern California ranchers. Since 2011, California has had 18 confirmed wild wolves in our state.

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