Wildlife Official Discover New Wolf Pack in Northern California as Populations Surge
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed a brand-new wolf family in Northern California.
Called the Grizzly pack, the group includes two adults and a pup that established territory this fall in southern Plumas County. The discovery keeps California’s wolf count at 10 existing packs, even after the loss of the Beyem Seyo pack in October following agency kill actions tied to livestock conflicts.
The news offers a bright spot in a year marked by both growth and setbacks for wolf recovery. At least six wolf families welcomed pups in 2024, totaling 31 new pups across the state. The Whaleback pack led the way with 10 pups, followed by the Harvey pack with seven, Ice Cave with six, Beyem Seyo with six, and Lassen with two.
“This year has brought joyful and tragic news about wolves’ homecoming to California,” said Amaroq Weiss of the Center for Biological Diversity. “Wolves are still in the early stages of recovery, and these new arrivals keep their trajectory positive.”
But the state also saw multiple wolf deaths this year. The Beyem Seyo pack lost three adults and a pup to kill actions in October, two pups likely died naturally, and another yearling’s death is under investigation. The breeding female of the Yowlumni pack was also found dead in September, likely from mange complications.
CDFW also released its latest livestock predation report, noting that over half of confirmed livestock losses this year occurred in Sierra Valley, mostly tied to the Beyem Seyo pack.
California’s wolf comeback began with OR-7, the first wolf to enter the state in nearly 100 years. His descendants, and now the Grizzly pack, continue to reshape the wild landscape — a sign that wolf recovery in the Golden State remains challenging, fragile and full of possibility.
