California Wolf Project Will Advance Science and Management of Gray Wolves

After nearly a century of absence from California, gray wolves (Canis lupus)  have made their return to the state. The species disappeared across the state in the 1920s, and the next documented sighting wasn't until 2011 when individual wolves were noted entering California from Oregon.

A new, long-term partnership between researchers at Rausser College of Natural Resources and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will advance the science and management of gray wolves in California. 

With additional support from the National Geographic Society, the California Wolf Project (CAWP) brings together scientists, wildlife managers, and conservation communicators working with diverse stakeholders to better understand the social and ecological factors that shape wolf populations and inform management decisions. The new project integrates UC Berkeley’s expertise in ecology, sociology, economics, and environmental policy while leveraging the university’s extensive network of agency, non-profit, landowner, and Tribal relationships. The CAWP team uses innovative and interdisciplinary methods to gather data on wolf spatial ecology, diet, predator-prey dynamics, and recolonization within California while contributing to conflict reduction strategies for rural communities and livestock producers.

“It is exciting to see wolves back in California, but there are a lot of questions about where they fit amongst a rapidly changing landscape with new challenges for agencies and livestock producers,” said Arthur Middleton, CAWP co-lead and Goertz Professor of Wildlife Management at UC Berkeley. “We hope our growing team can provide new support to those interested in and impacted by the state’s growing wolf population.” 

Wolves are classified as endangered both under the California Endangered Species Act and the federal Endangered Species Act. As of 2024, CDFW has reported at least seven wolf packs across California. CAWP is initially focusing on the Beyem Seyo (Plumas County), Harvey (Lassen and Shasta counties), Lassen (Lassen and Plumas counties), and Whaleback (Siskiyou County) packs. The program has also started to expand its work with the Yowlumni Pack (Tulare County), with the help of CDFW's Central Region staff. CDFW continues to survey for the presence of uncollared and collared wolves based on sighting reports and other signs of wolf activity. 

California’s wolf packs utilize large expanses of habitat compared to other areas in the western United States, presenting challenges for monitoring the population and questions regarding the availability of prey. The state and many landowners are mounting a variety of livestock protection and conflict reduction efforts while learning new lessons about their efficacy. CAWP will complement the state’s efforts with rigorous research and an outreach strategy for collaborating with local communities affected by wolf activity. 

“Given the wolf population increases we’ve recorded in the last few years and the management challenges that have resulted, there’s no better time for this partnership between CDFW and UC Berkeley,” said Axel Hunnicutt, the State Gray Wolf Coordinator at CDFW. “There are so many important management questions relating to the ecological, economic, and social effects of wolf recolonization in the state that already impact California’s ecosystems and its people. The formation of CAWP is expanding our capacity to address these questions in earnest.” 

The path of wolf recovery in California—the most populous and diverse US state—has the potential to shape national, and even global, perspectives on wildlife restoration and large-scale conservation. CAWP seeks to develop a model for bringing universities, government agencies, and local communities together around the science and practice of improving human-wildlife interactions on a shared landscape. 

“The Wildlife Program at UC Berkeley is committed to fulfilling our university’s mandate to support the people, economies, and nature of California with science, education, and outreach. CAWP embodies those priorities and embraces the diversity of perspectives that accompany the recovery of large carnivores,” said Justin Brashares, CAWP co-lead and a professor of wildlife ecology and conservation at UC Berkeley.

Learn more at the California Wolf Project website get updates via Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.

For media inquiries, email: californiawolfproject@berkeley.edu 
For research inquiries, email: wolffieldteam@berkeley.edu