An adventurous young gray wolf has ventured into uncharted territory, potentially making history.
According to state wildlife authorities, a 3-year-old female gray wolf has recently been tracked in Los Angeles County, the southernmost point a wolf has reached in California since the species’ reemergence over a decade ago.
This black-coated wolf, known as BEY03F, was born in Plumas County in 2023. In May 2025, biologists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife equipped her with a GPS collar to monitor her journey. She subsequently spent around eight months with the Yowlumni pack in Tulare County before embarking on her solo adventure.
Remote trail cameras have verified her sighting in Tulare County, and recent GPS data indicates she has traveled into Los Angeles County. Earlier this week, a tracking signal also showed her in Kern County. Although there have been no confirmed sightings in Southern California, her collar data indicates she is covering remarkable distances.
February coincides with the peak breeding season for gray wolves, during which dispersing wolves can travel hundreds, or even thousands, of miles in search of a mate. In the past year, BEY03F seems to have journeyed almost the entire Sierra Nevada.
Wolves were eradicated in California by 1924 but have made a natural return since 2011. By the end of 2024, the state recorded seven established packs and at least 50 wolves, predominantly in Northern California, with the Yowlumni pack being the first established pack outside the northeast region of the state.
As wolves expand their habitat, officials caution that vehicle collisions remain one of their most significant dangers, particularly as they navigate highways during extensive travels.
