California Fish and Game Commission Vote to Protect Endangered Gray Wolf

As of late, gray wolves keep roaming from Oregon into northern California, posing a tough decision for legislators. The gray wolf is an endangered species and is protected by the U.S. Endangered Species Act, but restrictions vary from state to state.

Despite the gray wolf being federally protected, Idaho and Montana have adopted aggressive hunting programs to manage their presence because they frequently attack livestock and other big game. The California Fish and Game Commission had the liberty of voting on whether or not the gray wolf should be considered "endangered" in their state.

On Wednesday the committee ruled that the wolves should be listed as an endangered species on a 3-1 vote. State game officials as well as cattle farmers are not too happy about the ruling, because it requires the state to enhance, restore, conserve, and manage the gray wolf population. This affects what people can hunt and how farmers manage their cattle. It could be illegal for farmers to "shoo" gray wolves away if they're threatening cattle or other farm animals.

Wildlife officials view this as a milestone, since this is the farthest west and south the gray wolves have established a pack since they were reintroduced to the Northern Rockies in the 1990s. Their reintroduction was necessary as hunting and poisoning decimated the wolves' population in the early 1900s because of their predatory habits.

"The Pacific states are the last, best place for wolves," said Amaroq Weiss of the Center for Biological Diversity in this Los Angeles Times article. "We have the progressive attitudes and social values where people embrace wildlife, no matter if it's got teeth and claws."

However, the game officials and Cattlemen's Association will likely continue to push for a less stringent management plan so the state can allow hunters and farmers to defend themselves as well as their cattle from a gray wolf attack. As the largest member of the canine family, the gray wolf preys on ungulates, such as elk, deer, moose, caribou, cattle, etc. There are an estimated 5,000 gray wolves in the continental 48 states.