After spending two months in California as the state's only known wild wolf, OR7 on Thursday returned to his home state of Oregon.
The male gray wolf, which is nearly 3 years old and presumably is searching for a mate, became famous late last year for trekking most of the the length of Oregon.
On Dec. 28 he entered Siskiyou County in California, becoming the state's first known wild wolf since 1924.
OR7, which is from the notorious Imhana pack in northeast Oregon, wears a GPS unit on his collar, enabling wildlife officials in Oregon and California to track his movements.
He spent his two months in California in Siskiyou, Shasta and Lassen Counties, and most recently was in Siskiyou, close to the state line. He crossed into Oregon at noon Thursday and his last relayed position was in Jackson County.
"While wolves crossing state boundaries may be significant for people, wolves and other wildlife don’t pay attention to state borders," said Russ Morgan, wolf coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. "It’s possible OR7 will cross back into California and be using areas in both states."
There is concern among ranchers and farmers that wolves might re-establish a population in California.
Wolves were eradicated from the West in the early 1900s by trappers and ranchers. Their reintroduction in the Northern Rockies in 1995 was controversial not only because of livestock concerns, but because of possible impacts on elk herds in some areas.
The cunning predators, believed by many to play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem by thinning deer and elk herds of weaker members, have flourished and spread to six states.
They've been removed from the endangered species list throughout much of their range and sport hunting is used in some states to manage wolf numbers.
They remain protected in California and parts of Oregon.
-- Image is believed to be that of OR7, photographed via trail-cam on Nov. 1 in southern Oregon.
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