Wolves Are Officially Back in California

California is home to so much magnificent wildlife, but wolves have sadly not been present in the state for years. That could be changing very soon, because for the first time in nearly a century, a wolf pack has been spotted in the Golden State.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has snapped photos of five gray wolf pups and two adults in Northern California. This is coming after a lone wolf was captured by trail cameras in May and July. The CDFW responded by installing additional cameras nearby, one of which photographed the wolf pack earlier this month. The pups appear to be a few months old, and the CDFW says the lone wolf they spotted before is likely to be associated with them.

The last wolf seen in the state was the famous OR7 who was discovered in 2011. Before that, a wolf hadn't been confirmed in California since 1924. That makes this group the first modern-day wolf pack to be found there.

Wolves were historically prevalent in California prior to the 20th century. As their favorite prey like elk and deer diminished and human populations began to rise, they moved on to places like Oregon and beyond. After decades without a real presence in the state, this new group—dubbed the “Shasta Pack”—could be the beginning of the species’ comeback.

[h/t: California Department of Fish and Wildlife]