Wolves Are Returning To California
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
California wildlife officials reported the confirmation of three new gray wolf packs in the state's northern counties, raising the number of established packs to 10—a level not seen in over a century.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) said on Tuesday that the Ashpan pack in eastern Shasta County, the Tunnison pack in central Lassen County, and the Ishi pack in eastern Tehama County were identified in its most recent quarterly survey. Each pack was formed by wolves dispersing from neighboring areas.
The new packs highlight ongoing recovery efforts for this apex predator in the American West, nearly a century after hunters and trappers eliminated wolves from the region's wilds.
Why It Matters
The re-establishment of wolves in California signals a major triumph for native wildlife conservation and ecosystem restoration. Wolves once roamed throughout North America but were eliminated from California by the 1920s. Their return has been both welcomed by conservationists, who cite wolves' role in maintaining ecological balance, and met with apprehension by ranchers concerned about livestock losses.
This June 18, 2019, file photo from remote camera video provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shows an adult wolf and three pups in Lassen County in Northern California.
This June 18, 2019, file photo from remote camera video provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shows an adult wolf and three pups in Lassen County in Northern California.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife/AP
What To Know
A Century-Long Absence and a Slow Return
California's last native gray wolf was killed in 1924. Only in 2011 did a wild wolf, OR-7, cross from Oregon into California, ending 87 years of absence. By 2015, resident packs began forming, with the Shasta Pack as the first confirmed since the species' extirpation.
Protection and Recovery
Wolves in California are protected under both state and federal endangered species acts, prohibiting their killing or harassment except in defense of human life. The CDFW and conservation groups have supported these protections to facilitate natural colonization, rather than formal reintroduction as seen in other states.
Recent Growth and Current Packs
The latest additions—the Ashpan, Tunnison, and Ishi packs—were identified through camera traps and field monitoring, joining established packs in Siskiyou, Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Shasta, and Tulare counties. State biologists estimate that up to 70 wolves now reside within California's borders.
Ongoing Challenges
As wolves have returned, threats to livestock have increased. In April alone, wolves killed 13 calves and injured seven more, according to state data. Four rural counties have declared states of emergency citing threats to ranching. Ranchers and the California Cattlemen's Association have requested changes to wolf protections to allow broader strategies for managing depredation, but direct lethal control remains illegal.
State Response and Future Habitat
The CDFW has designated support funds for ranchers losing livestock to wolves and continues public outreach to address coexistence concerns. Wildlife officials estimate that California's wilderness could eventually support several hundred wolves.
What People Are Saying
Amaroq Weiss, senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement released May 28: "How wonderful to witness another year of continued growth in California's recovering wolf population. It's inspiring to watch this renaissance, and we should do everything we can to ensure California's wolves have every chance to thrive."
Kirk Wilbur, lobbyist for the California Cattlemen's Association, told the Sacramento Bee: "We continue to have concerns that additional wolves mean additional depredation on livestock."
What Happens Next
State and federal wildlife agencies are expected to intensify monitoring and to update wolf management strategies, while ongoing dialogue continues between conservationists, government and the ranching industry to shape future coexistence policies.
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