State wildlife officials have confirmed the recent sighting of a gray wolf in California’s Mendocino National Forest. This marks the first time the species has been observed in the forest since its return to the state 15 years ago.
Reports of sightings in the forest were received by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in late August. County supervisor Brad Rasmussen stated on social media that the agency verified the presence of a wolf in the far north end of Lake County.
Alicia de la Garza, CDFW deputy director of public affairs, confirmed that the agency received two separate reports from an area where Mendocino, Glenn, and Lake counties meet. A CDFW wolf biologist confirmed the validity of photos and wolf tracks in the area.
Gray wolves were driven to extinction in California a century ago. They returned to the state in 2011 and have since expanded their presence, primarily in the rural north-east. There are at least 50 documented wolves in California.
Axel Hunnicutt, the state gray wolf coordinator for the CDFW, stated that this recent appearance in Lake County is the only confirmed sighting west of the Sacramento Valley, indicating an expansion of the species' range.
The return of wolves has led to controversy, with ranchers expressing frustration over livestock killings. The species is protected in California and under the federal Endangered Species Act. President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order directing the interior department to examine removing gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act and to loosen restrictions for "lethal removal."
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has attempted to de-list the gray wolf, but this matter is still in court. A 2022 federal court order currently protects wolves across most of the lower 48 states.