A new wolf pack was captured on camera near Lassen Volcanic National Park for the first time in over a decade.
The group consists of one adult male, an adult female and two cubs, and they are being referred to as the Diamond Pack. They were spotted on a wildlife camera roaming the southern border of the park, according to state wildlife officials.
Wolves once thrived in California, but have been virtually extinct in the area until recently. Researchers first identified a wolf in California in 2011. Now, there are nine wolf packs inhabiting the state, although researchers have pointed out that there may be an unknown number of wolves who have split from their packs.
“At this time, we have not had confirmed detections of this pack within the park, but are continuing to work with the National Park Service to monitor for wolf presence in the area,” said Axel Hunnicutt, a Gray wolf coordinator for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Much of [the park] is remote wilderness that would be ideal habitat for wolves and so it wouldn’t be surprising for this group to be using parts of the park.”
Hunnicutt was optimistic that the Diamond Park proves the wolf population is continuing “to expand in both size and extent within the state.”
With the rise of these predators, some people have raised concerns about human safety while recreating in the wild.
“Wolves rarely pose a direct threat to human safety, with wild wolves generally avoiding people. As with all wild areas of California, we encourage people to recreate responsibly in areas where large carnivores may be present,” Hunnicutt added.
Staying safe in wolf territory
The National Park Service has guidance on staying safe when you’re recreating in wolf territory:
- Never feed a wolf or any other wildlife. Do not leave food or garbage outside unattended. Make sure the door is shut on a garbage can or dumpster after you deposit a bag of trash.
- Treat wolves with the same respect you give any other wild animal. If you see a wolf, do not approach it.
- Never leave small children unattended.
- If you have a dog, keep it leashed.
- If you are concerned about a wolf—it’s too close, or is not showing sufficient fear of humans— do not run. Stop, stand tall, and watch what the wolf does. If it approaches, wave your arms, yell, flare your jacket. If it continues, throw something at it or use bear pepper spray. Group up with other people, and continue waving and yelling.
- Report the presence of wolves near developed areas or any wolf behaving strangely.