Tracking Wolves to Protect Livestock
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is launching helicopter capture operations in northern California to collar deer, elk and wolves with GPS devices, aiming to improve wildlife management and reduce conflicts with agriculture. Deer and elk captures are occurring across multiple counties this month to gather data on species distribution, habitat use, migration patterns and survival. Capture teams will also target uncollared wolves in several northern counties, returning the animals to suitable habitat after processing.
The collars will transmit location data daily for up to three years, helping scientists track movements and habitat preferences. For wolves, CDFW will share location information with cattle and sheep producers “with the goal of reducing negative interactions,” while noting that the collars do not provide real time tracking. Wolf data will also feed into the state’s online tracking map.
Wildlife captures will take place on public and permitted private lands. In October, CDFW euthanized four wolves in the Sierra Valley after months of unsuccessful efforts to curb livestock losses, highlighting the stakes of improved monitoring.
