1. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Wolf Plan Status DRAFT Gray Wolf Conservation Plan December 2015 Karen Kovacs Wildlife Program Manager Northern Region

2. History and Current Status of Wolves in California Legal Status Overview of the DRAFT Gray Wolf Conservation Plan Public Comment and Finalization of the Plan

6. 2011 and OR7 2011-2014 Unverified sightings 2014 Single black canid in Siskiyou County 2015 (May-June) single, possibly pair of gray wolves 2015 (August) confirmation of wolf pups later called the Shasta Pack in Siskiyou County 2015-16 OR25 enters/leaves northern California Continue to track sighting reports statewide; electronic reporting on CDFW website

7. Under Federal Regulations: Wolves that enter California are protected by the ESA, which is administered and enforced by the USFWS. On June 13, 2013, USFWS proposed to remove the gray wolf as an endangered and threatened species (but maintain endangered status for the Mexican wolf by listing it as a subspecies). Under ESA it is unlawful to “take” a wolf unless authorized by regulation or permit (50 CFR 17.21). The term “take” means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, collect or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.

8. Under State of California Regulations: California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) listed the gray wolf as an endangered species on June 4, 2014. “Take,” as defined in Fish and Game Code section 86, means to “hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill.” Take of a wolf is prohibited, except in a few limited circumstances. CDFW may authorize take of listed species for a scientific, educational or management purpose.

9.  How did we get here?  What the Plan is not

10. Part I  Introduction  Key Conservation Issues  Strategies  Implementation “strategies”

11. Part II, 12 Chapters 1.Wolf Life History 2.Diseases 3.Human Interactions and Current Perceptions of Wolves 4.Wolf and Domestic Dogs Interactions 5.Interactions with other Wildlife Species 6.Interactions with Ungulates 7.Effects of Wolves on Livestock and Herding/Guard Dogs 8.Coordination with other States and Federal Agencies 9.Wolf Conservation 10.Public Information and Outreach 11.Funding Needs and Opportunities 12.Plan Evaluation and Reporting

13. 3 Public Meetings: Yreka – 320 attended Long Beach – 150 attended Sacramento – 150 attended Submitted Comments: 36,113 comments received 35,309 form letter type (4 large, 3 small, all similar) Increase the number of breeding pairs identified in Phases and/or do not place wolf population caps Promote coexistence between wolves and livestock producers Promote the use of proactive measures (non-lethal tools)

14. Remaining 844 comments (741 general/60 chapter specific): Increase the number of breeding pairs between Phases Decrease the number of breeding pairs between Phases to provide for flexibility for management of depredating wolves or animals posing public safety hazard Provide compensation to ranchers for wolf-depredated losses Provide added training and funding for non-lethal protection for livestock Increase funding to implement the Plan Increase data collection on ungulate herds and adjust wolf management if herd #s significantly reduced, and Use the best available science

15. Common Misconceptions: Phased approach represents an attempt to delist wolves when the population reaches 9 breeding pairs or 50-75 wolves (leading to the hunting of wolves in California) Public confuses federal ESA and CESA CESA is the only legal mechanism to protect wolves Plan is an attempt by CDFW to reintroduce wolves into California, and Plan represents formal regulatory action by either CDFW or FGC Majority of commenters did not read the Draft Plan Was there anything new we learned from this process?

16. Demographics: 99% comments from California Comments from almost every other state, Alberta and BC Majority of comments were from 4 urban centers; Los Angeles, Bay Area, San Diego, and Sacramento Of the non-form letters, comments were largely balanced between protections for wolves or in favor of delisting wolves

18. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Wolf Plan Status