Wildlife Officials Capture and Collar 12 Gray Wolves in Northern California

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has successfully captured, collared, and released 12 gray wolves across Northern California, marking a significant milestone in monitoring and conservation efforts for the species.

The operation, conducted between January 14 and the end of the month, took place in Siskiyou, Lassen, Plumas, and Sierra counties. Wolves from the Whaleback, Harvey, and Beyem Seyo packs were fitted with satellite collars, allowing biologists to track their movements, study their diets, and mitigate conflicts with livestock.

“This exceeded our expectations and will enhance our ability to monitor our wolf population both for conservation and recovery and also to help mitigate conflict with livestock,” said Axel Hunnicutt, CDFW’s Statewide Gray Wolf Coordinator.

Of the 12 wolves collared, seven were female and five were male. Five were captured from the Beyem Seyo pack in Sierra County, five from the Harvey pack in Lassen County, and two from the Whaleback pack in Siskiyou County.

California is currently home to seven known wolf packs, though populations remain fluid. The Beyem Seyo and Antelope packs recently merged.

Meanwhile, CDFW is closely monitoring the Yowlumni pack in Tulare County, where wolves have been infected with sarcoptic mange, a parasitic skin disease that can lead to severe health issues.

With more wolves now under observation than ever before, researchers hope this effort will provide crucial insight into wolf movement, pack dynamics, and interactions with their environment.