A pack of gray wolves was spotted at a US National Park for the first time in a century, officials said.
The species was thought to have been hunted out of Lassen Volcanic National Park back in the 1920s, but were spotted again in the form of a small pack last month – following almost 100 years of federal protection.
A mother, father, and their two pups, the group was detected by a camera trap just south of the sprawling expanse in Northern California, the US Forest Service said – showing how the once endangered speech is in the midst of recovering
The family could be ‘utilizing portions of the park’ as their habitat, the department’s ‘gray wolf coordinator’ added in a statement – as others marveled at the species’ long-awaited return.
All remarked on what looks to be the start of a slow resurgence to the region from the canines, which was once the area’s apex predator.
Such a development would drastically alter the ecosystem, officials from the agency said in their statement, while confirming earlier reports of the same pack.
The park was once a stomping ground for the animal, before hunters and a lack of federal protection.
It now welcomes roughly a half-a-million visitors annually, though gray wolves rarely pose a threat to humans, officials said – citing statistics and their nearly nonexistent numbers in California.
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A pack of gray wolves was spotted at a US National Park for the first time in a century, officials said. A still shows a wolf from another pack in Northern California
The species was thought to have been hunted out of Lassen Volcanic National Park back in the 1920s, but were spotted again in the form of the pack last month. The Sierra Nevada Red Fox, seen roaming the Lassen Volcanic National Park in February, could benefit as a result
‘I did want to additionally clarify that conversations I’ve had with the state wolf coordinator… that detections have been by the park,’ the group wrote in response to re-shares of the Active NorCal report.
‘We have been made aware of sightings in the park of this pack. This news was not first reported by us.’
Following the conversation with state wolf coordinator Axel Hunnicutt, the group said, it became increasingly clear the sighting of the recovering endangered species was above board.
‘They currently do not have a name yet and this yet to be named wolf pack is one of a dozen groups/packs confirmed living in California,’ the group added in their Monday bulletin.
‘It is unknown what pack at this time the breeding adults are from.’
Meanwhile, others were seen reacting positively to the news, viewing it as the first signs of a return to normalcy after wolves were extirpated from California by 1924.
‘Yay!! We needed this shot of hope,’ one Facebook user replied as officials from the California Wolf Watch shared information about the sighting last Sunday.
‘So excited. I hope this pack survives,’ said another, as similar celebrations were seen over the course of several comments.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s State Wolf Coordinator Axel Hunnicutt confirmed the sighting this week in a statement
A wolf from pack was found in the Sequoia National Forest earlier this year is seen howling here
The more recent sighting is significant because it marks a return to region since wolves began recolonizing California in the 2010s, officials said
As it stands, there are currently eight packs of gray wolves roaming around California – now nine, with this new group.
Like the grizzly, the species was seemingly eradicated from the state by game hunters in the 19th and 20th centuries – causing packs to fan out and repopulate.
Leaving California behind to do so, packs took up residences in different states – such as Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and the Yellowstone area of Wyoming.
However, in the 2010s, it became clear that a recolonization effort from the gray wolf was underway.
Sightings across the Golden State showed how the animal was slowly returning to the outskirts of the state, with officials going on to name and identify eight distinct packs.
‘This finding is also significant as it marks the ninth current pack in California, and the 10th in modern times since wolves began recolonizing CA in the 2010s,’ Hunnicutt explained.
‘As this group was found to have pups, we will be working to monitor their survival into the new year as this will help quantify the recovery of the state’s wolf population,’ he added in an email this week.
He added how the sighting is the closest to the park so far, and could hold greater connotations for the local wildlife.
The gray wolf is a recovering endangered species protected under California and federal law, with nine known packs including this one operating in the state
In the gray wolf’s absence, coyotes have assumed their place at the type of the eat-or-be-eaten heap, leading the also endangered Sierra Nevada Red Fox population to suffer.
‘Sierra Nevada Red Foxes have been negatively impacted and outcompeted by coyotes,’ California Wolf Watch member John Marchwick said this week.
‘So with the return of wolves to California, it is anticipated wolves will be reducing coyote numbers leading to a potential increase in Sierra Nevada Red Foxes.
‘Something similar was observed in Yellowstone after wolves were reintroduced back to the park in 1995-1996, with an increase of red fox sightings occurred after wolves were reintroduced,’ he added.
Hunnicutt, meanwhile, clarified that the recent sighting came near the park’s southern border, as the animal is now federally protected.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has yet to release more information.
