Wolves Return to This National Park for First Time in a Century

Gray wolves have been making a resurgence in California over the past decade after having been eradicated in the state a century ago. And in promising news for the continuing population of the species, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed earlier this month that a pack was spotted within the borders of Lassen Volcanic National Park.

According to National Parks Traveler, the sighting marks the first time the wolves have been recorded within the boundaries of the national park, though the apex predators are known to inhabit the nearby Lassen National Forest. The new pack is believed to be an offshoot of that pack, named the Lassen Pack, comprised of a breeding male and female pair with two pups caught on wildlife camera. 

Gray wolves, which are native to California, are an endangered species protected under the California Endangered Species Acts (CESA) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Endangered Species Act. Experts believe that there are between 60 and 100 wolves roaming the state in a total of nine known wolf packs across the Lassen area, Lake Tahoe Basin, Siskiyou County near Mt. Shasta, and eastern Tulare County further to the south.

In December 2011, a male gray wolf from Oregon became the first confirmed wild wolf seen in California since 1924, when the species was extirpated from the state. The gradual return of the species has been celebrated by conservationists and wildlife advocates, as gray wolves can help manage coyote and deer populations. In turn, the reduction of coyotes is hoped to bolster the struggling population of red foxes. 

As the animals become more prevalent across the state, CDFW officials will closely monitor the packs and individual wolves to help protect and manage the burgeoning populations.