A Howling Success, but ...

The wolf is at the door, making it high time California decided what to do about it.

Nearly 10 years ago, 66 wolves were transplanted from British Columbia to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. Now, more than 700 wolves inhabit those areas and northwest Montana. But wolves are roamers and create new packs that seek their own territories. They have been seen in eastern Oregon, Washington and Colorado. It is likely only a matter of time before they appear in the Golden State, probably in wilderness areas near the Oregon border and the northern Sierra Nevada. (Wolves are shy of humans and seldom stray near urban areas.)

The trouble is, it’s unclear whether they will be met with open arms or with guns, given that California, which hasn’t had any wolves since the 1920s, doesn’t have any plan for how to manage a new wolf population in its wild areas. This takes on added importance because the Bush administration has proposed removing the wolf from the endangered species list. If that happens, it will be up to each state to say whether and under what conditions wolves can be hunted.

The wolf population in the lower 48 states is still fragile, and a premature delisting by the administration could undo the environmental benefits that reintroducing the wolves has already brought.

Yellowstone is a healthier park than it was 10 years ago. Wolves have started pushing elk away from river valleys, where they grazed lazily on saplings. Cottonwood and aspens are recovering along riverbanks. The trees’ shadows attract trout. Beavers have returned, their dams resulting in new marshland. That has attracted otters and ducks.

Yellowstone-area ranchers generally are more accepting of wolves now. Cattle and sheep kills have been lower than expected. It helped that Defenders of Wildlife has paid $400,000 to ranchers for loss of livestock and spent an additional $300,000 to protect herds.

There still are harsh critics. Hunting guides claim the wolves have ravaged elk herds. The fact is that the chronically overpopulated elk herd remains above ideal numbers in the park, the Park Service says.

Federal delisting has been held up until the states have acceptable wolf management plans. Wyoming law, however, declares that the wolf is a predator that can be shot at will in most areas. If Wyoming refuses to soften the law, the federal government will have to continue to safeguard the wolf.

That’s no excuse for inaction in Sacramento. The state should be ready to protect wolves in its wilderness areas in case the federal government closes the door on them.