The Wild Legacy: New Wolf Packs Find Home in California

The first part of our blog series, The Wild Legacy: A Brief History of Wolves in California, reviewed the fascinating past of wolves in California and why it’s so important they are a protected species. This article delves into the modern landscape of California, spotlighting the recent discovery of four new wolf packs! Since 2015, California has hosted eight recognized wolf packs, affirming the Golden State as a suitable environment for its former inhabitants.

The Four New Wolf Packs & Their Wilderness Territories

In July 2023 the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reported four newly documented wolf packs. As of March 2024, all four packs now have names. The geographic footprint of the packs spans from:

  • In March, the first pack of three wolves were found in Tehama County. This pack is known as the Antelope Pack

  • The Beyem Seyo pack consists of two breeding wolves and four pups in Plumas County.

  • A pair of adults and an unknown number of pups reside in Lassen County, known as the Harvey Pack.

  • The fourth and most recent pack was seen in July in Tulare County. This wolf pack is made of one breeding pair and six pups.

Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity reflects on this recent milestone for wolves in California, “Holy smokes what fantastic progress we’re witnessing in wolf recovery in California, I’m so grateful that both state and federal endangered species protections are allowing wolves to safely reestablish in the Golden State’s beautiful landscapes.”

New Wolf Pack Name Connects Region to Cultural Roots

Near Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County, the newest wolf pack was located and named the Yowlumni Pack in honor of the land's ancestors and indigenous culture. The CDFW and the Tule River Tribe chose this name based on the land’s origins, the Yowlumni band of Tule River Yokuts.

In the CDFW media release a Tule River Tribal Elder, Vernon Vera, recounts her family’s history “This was described by my mother, Agnes Vera, who was born on the Tule River Indian Reservation in 1926. She was the last fluent speaker of Yowlumni until her passing in 2010. She taught that the Yowlumni were speakers of the ‘Wolf Tongue.’”

The CDFW is grateful for the help of the Tule River Tribe with naming the Yowlumni Pack and bringing indigenous cultural connection back to the Tulare County region.

The Yowlumni Pack will be continuously monitored by the CDFW via tracking collar on the adult female placed on Dec. 5, 2023. After observation the CDFW concluded this pack includes a breeding pair and six pups. The return and population growth of this keystone species marks the era of a bright future for the biodiversity and overall ecosystem of California.

You Can Help Support Wolf Conservation

Efforts in gray wolf conservation are made possible by the support of people like you! There are a variety of easy ways you can help the CWC further our mission in wild wolf recovery:

  • Become a CWC member

  • Attend one of our tours or webinars

  • Participate in our volunteer opportunities

  • Donate

  • Shop in our online gift shop or Nature Store in downtown Julian

  • Purchase items from our Amazon Wishlist

  • Simply spread the word about wolves and CWC’s mission

Even by reading this blog, you are part of the solution for a better understanding of wolves and ultimately a better tomorrow. The CWC will continue our unwavering endeavors in wolf conservation to secure a healthier world for wolves and all of us who inhabit it!
Written by Caitlin D

BlogGuest User