After 100 Years, A Rare Gray Wolf Is Spotted in California’s Sequoia National Park

A gray wolf was spotted in Sequoia National Park in California, marking the animal’s presence in the region after more than a century. 

A female gray wolf was seen crossing into the Sequoia National Park in Central California, marking a historic milestone for the species, according to a social media post by the California Wolf Watch. 

According to the California Wolf Watch, the gray wolf crossing into the Sequoia National Park was confirmed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) wolf tracker map. 

The three-year-old wolf, known as BEY03F, was documented traveling to Los Angeles County earlier this year. Born in 2023, the wolf is a member of the former Beyem Seyo Pack in Northern California, according to the California Wolf Watch. 

According to wildlife advocates, she dispersed from her natal pack before the pack’s historic conflicts in 2025. She traveled around 370 miles south of her pack, eventually reaching the Yowlumni Pack’s territory. 

In May 2025, CDFW officials captured and collared her to help track her movements across the state. 

According to the California Wolf Watch, she had the southernmost dispersal of any known wolf in California so far. Wildlife advocates said she has dispersed to find potential mates and a suitable territory. 

Earlier this year, BEY03F was spotted in Los Angeles County, marking another milestone in the county. In February, her presence marked the species’ first confirmed appearance in the county in nearly 100 years. 

Several members of BEY03F’s natal pack, Beyem Seyo, were euthanized in November 2025 after they became heavily dependent on preying on livestock in the Sierra Valley instead of hunting natural wild game. The lethal action by the CDFW was the first of its kind since gray wolves returned to the state in 2011. 

Between March 28 and September 10, 2025, wolves from the Beyem Seyo Pack were responsible for 70 livestock losses, accounting for 63% of the total losses in California at the time. 

The wolves removed included a breeding pair, a female, and a male. The male wolf was juvenile and was unintentionally killed after being mistaken for the breeding male due to its similar color and size, according to the CDFW. 

Gray Wolves in California

After their long absence and eventual return in 2011, the gray wolf population in California has been growing steadily. 

Currently, there are 12 packs of gray wolves in the state, primarily concentrated in Northern California, according to the CDFW’s March update. Earlier, there were nine confirmed packs in the state. 

Native to California, gray wolves were extirpated from the state, with the last known wolf killed in 1924, according to the CDFW. In December 2011, a radio-collared wolf entered California from Oregon, marking the species’ return after decades of complete absence. 

One of the most protected species in California, the gray wolf is listed as endangered under both the federal and state endangered species acts.