The Rise and Demise of OR93

Well ain't that just appropriate. Laid low by a motor vehicle, there just ain't on one, nor no thing safe from that plague. You know, the last officially recorded wolf in Southern California was one captured in San Bernardino in 1922. So, when the wolf identified as OR93 was discovered making his was south in the early part of 2021 it was big news. 

OR93 was born into the White River pack of the Mt. Hood area in Northern Oregon in 2019. At the end of January 2021 his travels brought him into California, briefly. He returned to Oregon but, a few days later, again entered California. It was 4 February, and from that time on his journey would take him further and further south. He passed through portions of Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador and Calaveras Counties. On 24 February OR93 entered Alpine County and, a day later, arrived in Mono County. He passed through Tuolumne and Fresno Counties in mid to late March, crossed both Highway 99 and I-5 to reach San Benito County, arriving in Monterey County on 1 April. Four days later OR93's last transmission was received - from San Luis Obispo County. 

On the verge of entering Southern California, just outside the town of Lebec, the amazing journey of OR93 came to an end, when his body was discovered just off the I-5, another price paid to the almighty motor god. So dies the dream of spotting him loping along some nearby ridgeline while out for a day on the mountain bike. I have seen a lot of life out in the wild over the years, including some uncomfortably close encounters. This opportunity, it turns out was just a pipe dream.