Accordion side navigation Gray Wolf Report a Wolf Sighting Wolf Photos and Videos Wolf Livestock Compensation Grants Wolf Location Map OR-7 - A Lone Wolf's Story Gray Wolf Photos and Videos Photos and Videos of California's Wolves: 2015-2025 2025 The following photos are of the winter helicopter captures of wolves in Northern California. Capture operations occurred from Jan. 14 through the end of that month across Siskiyou, Lassen, Plumas and Sierra counties. With the aid of contracted aircraft and a capture crew, wolves from the Whaleback, Harvey, and Beyem Seyo packs were captured. In addition to fitting each wolf with a satellite collar, biologists recorded body measurements and collected biological samples, including DNA and blood. Those samples allow CDFW to monitor wolves for diseases and to determine the relatedness of individuals and packs. The wolves were released at their capture locations. An immobilized wolf being monitored - CDFW biologists Monitor a captured gray wolf - CDFW biologists CDFW biologists monitor BEY09M (a male born in the 2024 litter of the Beyem Seyo pack) recovering from anesthesia prior to being released close to where he was captured, January 2025. Photo credit: Malia Brytus/California Wolf Project. CDFW biologists monitor an anesthetized Harvey pack wolf after fitting a new GPS collar to her, January 2025. A newly collared wolf from the Beyem Seyo pack is released close to where she was captured by the helicopter team, January 2025. (Photo credit: Malia Brytus/California Wolf Project) CDFW veterinarian and biologist monitor LAS23F of the Beyem Seyo pack, prior to releasing her with the rest of her pack, January 2025. (Photo credit: Malia Brytus/California Wolf Project) HAR11M, a male born in the 2024 litter of the Harvey pack after being released close to where he was captured with a new collar, January 2025. (Photo credit: Axel Hunnicutt/CDFW) BEY01F, a female born in the 2023 litter of the Beyem Seyo pack after being released close to where she was captured with a new collar, January 2025. (Photo credit: Axel Hunnicutt/CDFW) WHA01F, the breeding female of the Whaleback pack is laid in a straw-lined crate to safely wake up from anesthesia. She was safely released with her daughter, WHA29F close to where they were captured, January 2025. 2023 Yowlumni Pack wolves in Tulare County, Fall 2023. OR85 of Whaleback Pack anesthetized, placed in a transport carry garment, attached to a long line, and safely transported by helicopter to biologists and veterinarians for processing. This transport technique occurs when the wolf is darted in a forested landscape where the helicopter cannot land. OR85 with new satellite collar released and returning to the Whaleback Pack. OR 85 Gray wolf released from kennel post capture. Both wolves were placed in kennels after processing so that they could be transported back to the release site. Blood draw for disease surveillance and genetics by Wildlife Health Lab Veterinarian (resident). 2020 8 wolf pups from the Lassen Pack in Lassen County, July 2020. CDFW video. Female gray wolf after being fitted with a satellite tracking collar in Lassen County, June 2020. Photo by CDFW Female gray wolf after being fitted with a satellite tracking collar in Lassen County, June 2020. Photo by CDFW Female gray wolf after being fitted with a satellite tracking collar in Lassen County, June 2020. Photo by CDFW 2019 Adult female, yearling and pups in Lassen County, June 2019 Female gray wolf pup in Lassen County, September 2019. Photo by CDFW Female gray wolf pup capture and release in Lassen County, September 2019. Video by CDFW 2018 Adult gray wolf in Lassen National Forest, July 2018. Photo by T. Rickman, USFS. Adult gray wolf in Lassen National Forest, July 2018. Photo by T. Rickman, USFS. Adult gray wolf in Lassen National Forest, July 2018. Photo by T. Rickman, USFS. Adult dark gray wolf in Lassen National Forest, August 2018. Photo by T. Rickman, USFS. Adult gray wolf with collar at night in Lassen National Forest, August 2018. Photo by T. Rickman, USFS. Adult gray wolf running in Lassen National Forest, August 2018.Photo by T. Rickman, USFS. Adult gray wolf drinking from water guzzler in Lassen National Forest, August 2018. Photo by T. Rickman, USFS. Adult gray wolf running during the day in Lassen National Forest, August 2018. Photo by T. Rickman, USFS. Adult black wolf running in Lassen National Forest, August 2018. Photo by T. Rickman, USFS. Adult dark gray wolf trotting in Lassen County, September 2018. Photo by L. Sandberg. Two adult gray wolves at night in Lassen County, September 2018. CDFW photo. One adult gray wolf at night in Lassen County, September 2018. CDFW photo. 2017 A pup howling. Wolves howl to communicate to each other. “Hey where are you? I’m over here.” CDFW photo. Adult female wolf in Lassen National Forest, October 2017. CDFW photo Three-month old wolf pups investigate their world while their mother, LAS01F, is on a hunting foray 5 miles away. Video by CDFW Collared breeding female wolf, LAS01F, and the breeding male heading out from their rendezvous site to hunt. Video by CDFW Four pups investigating their world in the wee hours of the night. Video by CDFW Wolf pup investigating a field camera it found. Video by CDFW 2015 - 2016 Shasta Pack pups in Siskiyou County, August, 2015.. Video by CDFW Adult canid in Siskiyou County, July, 2015. CDFW trailcam photo by Pete Figura. Adult wolf in Siskiyou County, August, 2015. CDFW trailcam photo by Pete Figura. Wolf pups in Siskiyou County, August, 2015. CDFW trailcam photo by Pete Figura. Gray wolf OR7. Photo by Bryce Bohlander. Gray wolf OR7. CDFW photo by Richard Shinn. Wolf track in soil. CDFW photo by Pete Figura. Wolf track in snow. Photo by Linda Hay. Wolf track in snow. CDFW photo by Pete Figura. Member of Shasta Pack. CDFW trailcam photo. Member of Shasta Pack. CDFW trailcam photo. Members of Shasta Pack. CDFW photo trailcam. Wolf track in snow. Photo by Tanya Dronoff. Members of Shasta Pack. CDFW photo trailcam. Member of Shasta Pack. CDFW photo trailcam. Members of Shasta Pack. CDFW photo trailcam. Potential evidence of at least one other wild wolf in California. CDFW trailcam photo, Lassen County. Potential evidence of at least one other wild wolf in California. CDFW trailcam photo, Lassen County. Potential evidence of at least one other wild wolf in California. CDFW trailcam photo, Lassen County. Potential evidence of at least one other wild wolf in California. CDFW trailcam photo, Lassen County. Potential evidence of at least one other wild wolf in California. CDFW trailcam photo, Lassen County. CDFW Staff at Work A CDFW biologist using telemetry to scan for a collared wolf in the Long Valley pack - Sierra Valley CDFW biologists returning from ground-truthing a collar cluster from the Whaleback pack, Siskiyou County CDFW biologists and law enforcement officers surveying wolf movements from the sky A CDFW biologist surveys for recently collared wolves in Plumas County Approaching a livestock carcass found in the Beyem Seyo pack range in Plumas County As sun sets, the time for howling surveys approaches. Howl surveys can be used to locate wolves across larger areas at certain times of the year. Diamond pack range, Plumas County CDFW staff deploying turbo fladry (a commonly used wolf-livestock deterrent tool) on the Hallelujah Junction Wildlife Area, Sierra County CDFW staff during conflict deterrent training hosted by USDA and USFWS in Sacramento Ground survey efforts begin in early April to detect new wolf packs and to locate known packs' denning locations. CDFW's wolf team are often some of the first to encounter down trees and snow covered passes. CDFW's Wildlife Forensic Lab plays a critical role in monitoring California's wolf population. Wildlife forensic scientists sample wolf scat collected by the wolf team, Sacramento, CA. CDFW biologists move a recently captured wolf from the Whaleback pack to begin the collaring and sampling process, Siskiyou County Photo credit: Malia Brytus/California Wolf Project CDFW biologists monitor a recently captured dispersing wolf from the Harvey pack, Modoc County Photo credit: Malia Brytus/California Wolf Project During the capture process, CDFW biologists collect a variety of morphological measurements and biological samples. Photo credit: Malia Brytus/California Wolf Project Resources (videos and infographics) Informative Videos Frequently Asked Questions About Tracking Collars (PDF) California Wolf News CA146, a young male in the Whaleback pack, post-collaring in January 2026. Siskiyou County. (Photo credit: Axel Hunnicutt/CDFW) A dispersing wolf caught on a CDFW connectivity program camera in Mono County CA077 (breeding female of the Whitehorse pack) was captured and collared in May, 2026. Modoc County. (Photo credit: Ari Sarchi/CDFW) CA131 (breeding male of the Grizzly pack) was captured and collared in August, 2026. Plumas County. (Photo credit: Axel Hunnicutt/CDFW) Track of a wolf detected in northern Lake County in August 2026. (Photo credit: Ari Sarchi/CDFW) Trail camera photo of wolf pups from the Long Valley pack, Sierra County. CA146 (male from the 2024 Whaleback litter) was originally collared in January 2026, but his collar malfunctioned. He was recollared with a new collar in October, 2026. Siskiyou County. (Photo credit: Christina Winters/CDFW)