Wolf Recovery Rises While Safeguards Weaken
- Cecilia Rodriguez & Kimberly Baker
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
You may be familiar with the recent and ongoing attacks on the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). These rollbacks threaten countless beloved species across our state and beyond. Thankfully, California’s own Endangered Species Act (CESA) remains a stronghold, especially for one iconic species: the Gray Wolf. But as their numbers rise, protections decrease.
Often a source of controversy, particularly among the agricultural industry, the gray wolf's return has sparked both excitement and concern. Since 2016, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has been tracking gray wolf movements and monitoring pack activity, and the results are surprising: populations aren’t just holding steady, they’re growing, with at least 70 known wolves now roaming the state, 12 of which were recently collared. Once extirpated from these lands, their return is a testament to their resilience and the power of the Endangered Species Act.
Most notably, five of the seven known packs meet the CDFW’s criteria for a “breeding pair.” And with at least four of those pairs reproducing for two or more years, California has now moved into Phase 2 of the Conservation Plan for Gray Wolves – a turning point officials hadn’t expected to reach so soon.
While not nearly recovered to their original populations, gray wolves remain listed as endangered under both the California and federal ESA, for now. While Phase 2 does include a reevaluation of their status at the state level, the plan rightfully assumed: “A population with 4 Breeding Pairs (BPs) is likely not sufficient to warrant changing the status of wolves from endangered to either threatened or delisted, under CESA.” In addition to this safeguard, Phase 2 introduces methods of managing human-wolf interactions, like permitting ranchers to use “less-than-lethal harassment” deterrent methods such as non-lethal ammunition or motorized equipment to keep wolves away from livestock.
Additionally, in the coming weeks and months, the CDFW plans to release an online tool to provide information about the GPS-collared wolves in California, providing timely information on pack location and movements in regards to livestock interactions. We can also expect the first annual report summarizing nearly a decade of wolf conservation efforts and management activities from 2015-2024.
Although wolves are still a long way from reaching it, the plan outlines Phase 3 to begin once there are eight breeding pairs for two consecutive years. At that point, the CDFW will initiate a review of the species’ status under the CESA. This review will determine whether gray wolves should remain listed as endangered at the state level. Because it is difficult to predict the conditions of wolf populations at the time Phase 3 is triggered, the plan’s language for this stage is intentionally flexible and non-prescriptive.
The return of wolves in California is a conservation success, made possible by strong legal protections and the resilience of the species. But as their numbers increase and their foothold across the state grows stronger, the safeguards that made this resurgence possible are likely to shift. Entering Phase 2 of California’s Conservation Plan is a hopeful benchmark, yet it’s also a reminder of the cruelties committed when safeguards are lost. The path forward for wolf recovery in the Golden State will be a test of our willingness to coexist.
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