Yosemite National Park often sparks curiosity about its wildlife, including wolves. While these predators once roamed across California, their current status in regions like Yosemite is complex. This article explores whether gray wolves are currently found in Yosemite, their historical presence and disappearance, and broader recovery efforts in California.
Current Status of Wolves in Yosemite
Yosemite National Park does not have an established, resident population of gray wolves. While the park’s diverse ecosystems could potentially support wolves, there are no known packs living within its boundaries. Transient individual wolves have been documented traveling near the park in recent years, indicating their potential to return.
In 2021, OR-93, a male wolf from Oregon, was tracked to Mono County, just east of Yosemite. This marked the furthest south a wolf had been documented in California in modern times, highlighting the species’ capacity for long-distance dispersal. These individuals are typically dispersing animals searching for new territory or mates, not members of an established pack. Park visitors sometimes mistake coyotes, which are common in Yosemite, for wolves.
Historical Presence and Absence
Gray wolves were once native to California, including the Sierra Nevada region where Yosemite is located. These apex predators played a significant role in the state’s historical ecosystems. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, wolf populations faced intense pressure from human activities.
Extensive trapping, hunting, and government-sponsored predator control programs led to the systematic eradication of wolves from California. Farmers and ranchers, concerned about livestock depredation, actively participated in these efforts. By the mid-1920s, gray wolves were considered extirpated from the state, with the last known wolf reportedly trapped in Lassen County in 1924. This absence profoundly impacted the state’s natural ecological balance for nearly a century.
Wolf Recovery in California
The return of gray wolves to California has been a gradual process of natural recolonization from neighboring states, particularly Oregon. The first confirmed wild wolf in California in nearly 90 years, OR-7, crossed the border from Oregon in late 2011. This pioneering journey paved the way for subsequent dispersals and the eventual formation of new wolf packs.
Since then, wolf populations have slowly grown, primarily establishing themselves in northeastern California. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reports approximately 10 known wolf packs and an estimated 50 to 70 wolves residing in the state. These packs are largely concentrated north of Lake Tahoe and east of Interstate 5, though one pack, the Yowlumni Pack, has settled in the southern Sierra Nevada. Wolves are protected under both federal and California endangered species acts, making it illegal to intentionally kill them except in defense of human life. CDFW actively monitors these populations, manages wolf-livestock conflicts, and provides compensation programs for ranchers affected by wolf activity, supporting the ongoing recovery of this once-absent species.