Continuing a growing trend, three new wolf packs have been confirmed in Northern California, increasing the population of the charismatic and controversial predator to 78 now — up from 44 animals in 2023 and only 7 in 2020.

Three new wolf packs have emerged in the rural, mountainous regions of northeastern California, wildlife officials announced. All three packs are located in a remote region where the northern Sierra Nevada meets the southern Cascades.

The findings come after several counties have declared local states of emergency in response to wolf encounters with livestock.