The Wild Wolves are making a major comeback in California.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed on Tuesday that three new wolf packs have developed in the state. These are Ishii Pack in eastern Tehama County, Tonnison Pack in Central Lassen County, and Ashpan Pack in East Shasta County.
This brings the total number of known wolf packs in California to 10.
Amalok Weiss, a senior Wolf advocate at the Center for Biodiversity, celebrates the news.
“It’s great to witness another year of continued growth in California’s recovery wolf population,” Weiss said in a news release. “It’s exciting to see this Renaissance and we should do everything we can to get every opportunity for California wolves.”
CDFW Wolf Coloring Photos for January 2025: Malia Byrtus/California Wolf Project.
Confirming the new pack is the latest step in a decades-long effort to reestablish wolves in the US West.
The gray wolf, native to California, was eradicated in the mid-1920s. Their return began with OR-7, a wolf from Oregon, who entered California in late 2011.
The first pack was confirmed in Washington and Oregon in 2008, followed by California in 2015. By the end of 2024, wildlife officials had counted 75 individual Wolfpack territory across three states.
In addition to the three new packs, California will also have whale backpacks in Siskiyou County, Lassen Pack, Diamond Pack, The Beyem Seyo Pack, The Ice Cave Pack, The Harvey Pack and Yowlumni Pack whale backpacks, according to CDFW. The department also pointed out that two small groups of two or three wolves in Northern California still do not qualify as a pack.
Map (CDFW) showing known wolf packs and wolf populations in Northern California as of Spring 2025
While many people are celebrating the wolves’ return to California as a success, there is great concern in areas where wolves are reestablishing themselves, primarily among ranchers and rural communities.
“Wolves exhibit atypical behavior,” Lassen County Sheriff John McGalva wrote in a recent letter to CDFW, saying the animals are increasingly invading residential areas and appear to be glaring at the typical deterrent. He said the wolves reportedly killed six calves in the Big Valley area in March.
The wolves are currently protected under both California and federal endangered species conduct, highlighting their continued commitment to recovery.
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