SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Researchers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the latest annual count of gray wolves in the state of California. That update for 2024 showed a remarkable population climb for the endangered species along with an uptick in total wolf packs recorded.
“This year we had a minimum of 30 pups born across five or six packs and that’s the largest annual litter count we’ve had thus far in the state,” Axel Hunnicutt, the State Gray Wolf Coordinator with CDFW told CBS 8. “The last wolf was removed or killed in 1924 in Lawson County and there had been zero presence or evidence since then until 2011 when a wolf came down from Northeast Oregon. Since then, about 2015, we’ve had consistent wolf presence ever since.”
It’s estimated that at least 70 wolves are roaming the state now, up from just 44 last year. The count also showed two new packs, bringing the state to 9 named wolf packs with nearly all roaming the northeast corner of the state…