Wild Wolf Reaches Los Angeles County After 370-Mile Journey

First wild wolf sighting in the region in over a century

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A 3-year-old female gray wolf, tagged BEY03F and wearing a GPS collar, has crossed into the mountains north of Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, marking the furthest south in California that a wild wolf has been tracked. The wolf traveled over 370 miles from her birthplace in Plumas County, north of Lake Tahoe, as part of her search for a mate and habitat.

Why it matters

California's native wolf population was wiped out by the 1920s, and the animals have only begun to return to the state in the last decade, aided by protections under the California Endangered Species Act. This sighting in Los Angeles County represents a historic moment in the ongoing return of wolves to California.

The details

The female wolf was tracked moving through the Kern County desert earlier in the day before crossing into Los Angeles County around 6am on Saturday. Researchers say she is still on the move because she hasn't yet found a mate or a place to settle, with each additional mile increasing her encounters with roads and other human infrastructure. Vehicle strikes are the leading known cause of wolf deaths in the state.

  • On Saturday, February 8, 2026, the wolf was tracked moving through the Kern County desert.
  • Around 6am on Saturday, February 8, 2026, the wolf crossed into the mountains north of Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County.

The players

BEY03F

A 3-year-old female gray wolf wearing a GPS collar.

Axel Hunnicutt

The gray wolf coordinator for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

John Marchwick

A representative from the nonprofit California Wolf Watch.

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What they’re saying

“Her journey isn't over.”

— Axel Hunnicutt, Gray wolf coordinator, California Department of Fish and Wildlife

“This is a historic moment in that ongoing return.”

— John Marchwick, California Wolf Watch

What’s next

Researchers will continue to monitor BEY03F's movements using her GPS collar to track her search for a mate and habitat.

The takeaway

The arrival of this wild wolf in Los Angeles County after a 370-mile journey marks a significant milestone in the recovery of California's wolf population, which was nearly wiped out a century ago. It highlights the resilience of these animals and the ongoing efforts to protect and restore their habitats across the state.