Gray Wolf Spotted in LA County for the First Time in a Century
Rare Wolf Sighting in Southern California Marks Long-Distance Journey
A lone gray wolf, born in Plumas County near Lake Tahoe, has made headlines after being spotted in Los Angeles County over the weekend. This remarkable sighting occurred approximately 375 miles south of her birthplace, near Lancaster in northern Los Angeles County.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife shared video footage of the three-year-old female wolf, highlighting this rare wildlife encounter in Southern California. The agency has been tracking her movements since May, when she was fitted with a tracking collar.
Historically, the last recorded gray wolf in the wild in Southern California was seen in 2021 in Ventura County. Gray wolves in California are classified as a recovery endangered species, under protection of both state and federal endangered species laws. The species was likely extirpated from the region in the 1920s but has made a natural return from nearby states, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The natural recolonization of gray wolves in California began in 2011, leading to the establishment of the Shasta Pack in 2015, which is no longer active. Currently, there are nine confirmed wolf packs in the state, located in Shasta, Plumas, Lassen, Tehama, Siskiyou, and Tulare counties.
The wildlife agency continues to investigate reported sightings as part of its ongoing monitoring program.
