A Long-Awaited Sighting
A gray wolf has made a historic return to Los Angeles County, marking the first confirmed sighting in more than 100 years. The three-year-old female, known as BEY03F, was spotted in the mountains north of Santa Clarita early Saturday morning, officials said. Earlier that day, she had been seen in the desert south of Kern County, highlighting her wide-ranging journey.
Tracking a Lone Traveler
BEY03F, born in 2023 in Plumas County’s Beyem Seyo Pack, has traveled over 370 miles south in search of a mate and suitable habitat. Equipped with a GPS collar since May, wildlife officials have been able to monitor her movements closely. “The fact that she is still on the move is an indication that she has not found a mate and suitable habitat,” said Axel Hunnicutt, gray wolf coordinator for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Challenges Ahead
While her journey is historic, it comes with risks. California’s wolf population, wiped out about a century ago, has slowly returned and now numbers at least 60. BEY03F could form a pack if she encounters other wolves in the Tehachapi Mountains or continue north along the Sierra Nevada. However, human infrastructure poses a major threat. “The highest known cause of mortality for wolves is vehicle strikes,” Hunnicutt warned, underscoring the dangers this pioneering wolf faces as she navigates her way through the state.
