A few days before New Year’s, a grey wolf known as OR7 crossed the Golden State’s northern border, the first lobo in 88 years. Since then, the single male (in search of companionship) has caught the imagination of wildlife fans as he’s loped 1,000 miles, all tracked by his GPS collar and mapped online. “People are going to get wolf tattoos, wolf sweaters, wolf key chains, wolf hats,” said Patrick Valentino, a board member with the California Wolf Center. After being hunted to near extinction, the wolf population in the West has rebounded to 1,700, and California officials are scrambling to prepare for the inevitable immigration by OR7’s cousins. Though considered endangered in California and protected by stringent state and federal laws, many fear the bachelor wolf will get offed by a hunter or rancher for he finds his mate. Via NY Times.

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