For this members only Townhall event, HOWL for Wildlife welcomes Justin Webb (Executive Director of the Foundation for Wildlife Management) and Jessi Johnson (Government Affairs Director, Wyoming Wildlife Federation.)

Wolves are on the cusp of exponential population growth in California. The known wolf population nearly doubled in California in 2024 and is now reaching past 70 animals, with 9 packs acknowledged and several additional "areas of wolf activity" identified. California could trend towards 300+ wolves in CA by 2027. Wolf numbers may grow faster than management practices and policies can evolve, and a wildlife and ecosystem crisis could be the result. 

This Townhall will be a forum to learn from experts who know their way around wolf issues - including policy and practices of management. This is the beginning of several deep dives into one of the most contentious and complex wildlife issues we have in California, and really throughout North America. 

Our goal at HOWL is to build deeper education into this topic, and broaden support for successful adaptive management which supports both wild and human ecosystems. The wolf management plans for California are nearly 10 years old and need to be updated. Wolf numbers may soon warrant a delisting from "endangered status", or at least down-listing in California. Plan updates and ESA/CESA changes will surely take 1-2 years to complete, during which time the wolf population in CA could grow 3-5x from current numbers. The time to start discussions that lead to plan updates is now. 

After RSVP you'll receive an email with an link to the HOWL membership page and to the CDFW Gray Wolf information page. This is a members only event, please join HOWL for Wildlife.  

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We look forward to sharing this conversation with you, and look forward to working as a community for the success of wild ecosystems! 

 

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The below commentary was shared with the California Fish & Game Commission, during public comments (Agenda Item 2) of their 12/11/24 meeting in Sacramento CA. Mike Costello is a HOWL contributor who lives in California, and is intent on bringing stakeholders together for the uncomfortable but necessary process of getting ahead of an impending crisis, where wolf, bear and mountain lion population far exceed the available carrying capacity that current prey species populations support.

Join HOWL for Wildlife... to support sustainable hunting, conservation, and ecosystem health. 

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On Jan 11th and 12th 2023 the California Wildlife Resource Committee will meet to discuss a variety of topics. These discussions often lead to what the Commission will eventually vote on.    

 

Of note: 

• Petition 2021-017 - submitted by fellow California sportsmen Dan Ryan to address updated seasons, opportunities, tag/point issues and more.
• Black Bear Management Plan - the department should have an updated plan this year.   We want to do our part in asking for 2nd bear tags, spring seasons, earlier seasons and more. 
• Elk Hunting opportunities - this is already department supported and would add 112 elk hunting tags to the current amount. 

Here's how you get involved:

Email action - send a note of support to the WRC here - we'll be delivering the emails at the WRC meeting. 

Speak to the WRC - sign up here and we'll send you notes and links to help as well.

 

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