Just a little update. The Oregon gray wolf that entered California on Dec. 28 has been tracked moving through Lassen County and crossing several roads and highways. The California Department of Fish and Game is updating a website with news of the male wolf almost daily. The public map that tracks his movements, however, is intentionally kept about two weeks out of date to protect the wolf.

As of January 11, the last date mapped, the GPS collar around OR7's neck revealed he was west of U.S. 395 north of Eagle Lake, and headed generally northeast. Before then, OR7 had passed east of Mount Shasta and crossed state highway 89 near Burney and route 44 a couple of times, mostly headed south or east. He had covered almost 200 miles in the 15 days since crossing into California. "Ths animal can easily cover more than 40 miles (straight line distance) in a day," the DFG site says.

Still no new pictures since the one from Oregon in November. OR7 is the first confirmed wild wolf in California since 1924. "Any wolf that enters California is protected as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act," the DFG points out.

PDF map

Previously on LA Observed:
A gray wolf could be approaching California - first since 1924

Map: California Department of Fish and Game. Hat tip: Pete Thomas