Gray wolf sighting confirmed in California's Mendocino National Forest

Wildlife officials have confirmed a rare sighting of a gray wolf in California’s Mendocino National Forest. The sighting, reported in late August, occurred in an area where Mendocino, Glenn, and Lake counties meet.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) verified the presence of the animal through photos and physical evidence, including wolf tracks. This marks the first confirmed sighting in Lake County since gray wolves returned to the state in 2011, and it represents the only confirmed sighting west of the Sacramento Valley.

State gray wolf coordinator Axel Hunnicutt noted that the appearance suggests the species is expanding its range. While there are at least 50 documented wolves in California, the return of the predator remains a point of contention for local ranchers due to livestock protection concerns and the species' status under the federal Endangered Species Act.