Wolves Edge Closer

    Ella Clifford
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    Wolves Edge Closer
    LONE WOLF: Truckee Police shared California Department of Fish and Wildlife maps showing confirmed sightings of a wolf Jan. 31 before the animal returned to Nevada. Screenshot

      TRUCKEE/TAHOE

      A wolf presence in Truckee has been confirmed. 

      “Wolves that were originally part of the introductions into the Rocky Mountains have now migrated to California on their own,” said Peter Tira, a wildlife officer with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Northern Region. 

      The most recent wolf report in the Truckee region came the night of Jan. 31 and early the following day. By the afternoon of Feb. 1, the wolf had already moved back into Nevada. 

      The wolf is a male that left the Harvey Pack in Lassen County, likely in search of a female or to create his own pack. The Harvey is a gray wolf pack in California, first confirmed in 2023, with a home range primarily in western Lassen County and extending into eastern Shasta County.

      “Wolves are a native species to California,” Tira said. “They have been returning to California on their own starting in 2011 with the arrival of seven from Oregon.” 

      A common misconception is that the California department introduced wolves, Tira said.

      Currently, there are estimated to be between 50 and 70 wolves in the state. 

      CALIFORNIA PACKS: Wildlife officials speak at Donner Memorial State Park in June 2025 about the return of gray wolves to California and potential conflicts with livestock. This map shows the location of known packs in the state. Photo by Sarah Miller/Moonshine Ink

      “Many Californians are inspired by the fact that we can have 40 million people in this state and still have an animal that represents the wild, such as wolves,” he said.

      Nevertheless, wolves do present some very real threats to rural California. 

      Wildlife officers predicted the wolves to end up in areas like Yosemite and the Trinity Alps of California, however, this has not been the case according to Tira. The animals appear to prefer being on the edges of ranches, primarily in Northern California. 

      “Wolves often prey on livestock and not on natural prey,” Tira said.

      Currently, there is no permanent wolf presence in the Tahoe Basin, but they’re not far away.

      HISTORIC RANGE: Community members gathered at Donner Memorial State Park in June 2025 to hear state wildlife officials discuss the history of wolves across the world and recent wolf activity in the region. Photo by Sarah Miller/Moonshine Ink

      The public can expect to see a wolf presence increase as more males break off from their pack in search of females.

      “They disperse and travel great distances,” Tira said. “We had a wolf in Los Angeles County this [past] weekend for the first time in 100 years. 

      The return of wolves to California is raising questions about what it means for public safety as communities once again learn to live alongside a top predator. 

      “It’s important to realize that in the past 100 years, there have only been two recorded wolf attacks on people,” Tira said.

      ~ EC