CALIFORNIA (KOLO) – California’s wolf population rose 10% in 2025, according to new data from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Data also showed the number of successful breeding pairs also declined, with five breeding pairs being seen in 2025.
“I’m glad California has issued its first annual wolf report, though it’s a mixture of good and concerning news,” said Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “More wolf packs and more new territories are exactly what we’d want for a wolf population that’s beginning to recover, so that’s clearly a good thing. But I hope 2025 is the only year where we see successful breeding pairs decline.”
The known population of wolves in California was 55 at the end of 2025, an increase from 50 in 2024.
Statewide, there were nine total wolf packs, up from seven in 2024. The packs were seen in Shasta, Lassen/Plumas, Plumas, Lassen/Shasta, Plumas/Tehama, Lassen/Plumas, Lassen, Siskiyou, and Tulare/Kern counties.
Three more packs were discovered in the first quarter of 2026.
The data shows 12 known wolf deaths occurred in 2025, four of which were killed by the CDFW for conflicts with livestock in the Sierra Valley. Two died from being hit by cars, three were found dead of unknown causes, while the deaths of the final three are under investigation.
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