A Conservation Challenge: The Amazing Return of Gray Wolves to Southern California.

 According to a report from the LA Times, for the first time in over a century, a brown wolf was spotted in the national landmark of Southern California. Michelle Harris, who had seen the wolf in early July, described witnessing a large, brown canine crossing a road amid a wildfire.

Harris told the LA Times, "Then she put her head down and really howled. All I could think was, 'It doesn't look like a coyote, but it should be, right?'"

Later analysis of paw prints, fur, and left-behind remains confirmed that the animal was a female gray wolf, which has now been designated as a member of the Tule Lake pack, according to the LA Times.

She came with her four offspring, consisting of two males and two females. DNA analysis also revealed that they are descendants of the OR-7 wolf, the first wolf seen in California in 90 years back in 2011.

The return of wolves to the area pleased local conservationists, who urged the US Forest Service to halt logging operations there until the effects on the endangered wolves could be evaluated.

However, not everyone is pleased with this news. According to the LA Times, logging companies are resisting efforts to halt their projects, while livestock owners are concerned that their animals may become prey for these large predators.

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In the 19th and 20th centuries, there was a similar fear behind the initial project to eliminate wolves in all of America. Unfortunately, that is happening again due to the unexpected environmental consequences of the increasing populations of deer and elk, top prey for these apex predators.

The absence of wolves has had a significant impact on the environment and terrain, much like in Yellowstone National Park, and their reintroduction could have a remarkable, if unclear, balancing effect.

The LA Times revealed that there is no need for farmers and livestock owners to worry, as California already has a compensation system in place for those who lose livestock to wolves.

While people are still deciding how to react to the new pack, Harris mentioned that she hasn't seen any fresh signs of them since July. She said, "I haven't seen any fresh signs of the pack since July. There's been a lot more activity in the area since then. They might have moved to a quieter spot."