Wildlife Archives - Active NorCal

Apr- 2026 -

22 April

Two Competing Bills Would Reshape How California Deals With Bears, Wolves, and Mountain Lions

A bear euthanized in a Southern California neighborhood and four wolves killed in Northern California’s Sierra Valley have pushed wildlife…

22 April

Eagles, Owls, and Falcons Go Missing After a Strange Break-In at a NorCal Falconry Center

Someone broke into a Marysville falconry center last week and chased 11 birds of prey out of their enclosures into…

21 April

California Has Opened 24 Wolf Investigations in 2026. Most of the Confirmed Kills Are in One NorCal County.

Gray wolves are active across parts of Northern California this spring, and the livestock losses piling up in Siskiyou County…

21 April

Venomous Snake Bite Kills Mendocino Woman in What’s Becoming a Deadly Year in California

A 78-year-old woman died earlier this month after being bitten by a venomous snake while walking on a rural property…

21 April

This Legendary Waterfall Doubles as One of California’s Rarest Bird Nesting Sites

Most people pull over at McArthur-Burney Falls for the waterfall. The 129-foot cascade in Shasta County is one of the…

20 April

Gray Whales Keep Dying Along the Northern California Coast and Researchers Are Searching for Answers

An unsettling pattern has been developing along the Northern California coast. Gray whales have been washing up dead in and…

20 April

California Bill Targets Rising Mountain Lion Encounters Across Northern California

A California bill aimed at reducing dangerous mountain lion encounters is gaining traction in Sacramento, clearing a key committee vote…

19 April

130,000 Chinook Salmon Just Got Stocked in Lake Oroville

Lake Oroville just got a significant fish delivery. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife released approximately 130,000 fall-run inland…

18 April

Northern California’s First Wild Condor Egg in Decades Fails to Hatch

It was one of the most hopeful wildlife stories to come out of Northern California in years. Now, it’s ended…

15 April

Rebounding Chinook Populations Bring Back California’s Ocean Salmon Season

California’s ocean salmon fishing season is making a major comeback in 2026 after three consecutive years of commercial closure and…

15 April

Found a Baby Deer in the Wild? California Wildlife Officials Say Leave It Alone

If you spot a baby deer curled up alone in the grass this spring, the best thing you can do…

5 April

California Pulls Funding From Tribal Salmon Restoration on the McCloud River

A tribal-led effort to bring endangered winter-run Chinook salmon back to the McCloud River above Lake Shasta is in danger…

2 April

California’s Coastal Birds Are Dying in Unusual Numbers and Wildlife Officials Finally Know the Cause

California beachgoers have been encountering an unsettling sight lately — dead and dying seabirds washing ashore along much of the…

Mar- 2026 -

29 March

A Massive Salmon Release Hit the Sacramento River This Week at the Worst Possible Time

More than 6.2 million juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon were released from the Coleman National Fish Hatchery into Battle Creek this…

26 March

A Snorkeling Biologist Just Captured Something Never Before Photographed in a Northern California Creek

Photo via NPS / Michael Reichmuth A fish biologist got more than he bargained for during a routine snorkel survey…

26 March

California Condors Nest in Northern California Redwoods for the First Time in a Century

Photo via the Yurok Tribe Two young California condors are making history deep in Northern California’s redwood country. Program officials…

25 March

Chinook Salmon Hatch in Upper Klamath Basin for First Time in Over a Century

For the first time in more than a century, young Chinook salmon are swimming in the tributaries of Upper Klamath…

23 March

Gray Whale Found Dead Near the Golden Gate Bridge Was Likely Struck by a Ship

A 42-foot gray whale found floating in San Francisco Bay near the Golden Gate Bridge earlier this week was likely…

18 March

Dead Seabirds Washing Up on Point Reyes Beaches Linked to Avian Influenza

Avian influenza appears to have made its way to Point Reyes National Seashore after a sharp uptick in dead seabirds…

13 March

California Reviewing Program That Compensates Ranchers for Wolf Losses

As gray wolves continue to reclaim territory across Northern California, state wildlife officials are taking a closer look at a…

13 March

Bird Flu Outbreak at Popular California Wildlife Destination Spreads to Sea Otter and Sea Lion

A recent outbreak of avian influenza along the Northern California coast is now affecting multiple marine species, raising new concerns…

8 March

Scientists Gather at Lake Tahoe to Protect the World’s Largest Trout

Researchers from across the globe recently met in the Lake Tahoe region to focus on an unusual conservation mission: protecting…

6 March

California Pays Out $3.5 Million to Ranchers as Gray Wolves Continue Their Return

As gray wolves reclaim territory across Northern California, the state has now distributed more than $3.5 million to livestock producers…

2 March

State Invests $10 Million in Salmon Restoration Projects Across Northern California

California is doubling down on salmon recovery, approving millions in new funding aimed at restoring rivers and rebuilding fish habitat…

1 March

One of California’s Most Elusive Animals Just Showed Up on a Tahoe Trail Cam

One of California’s rarest wild residents has quietly returned to the Lake Tahoe Basin. The California Department of Fish and…

1 March

Bird Flu Outbreak Kills Dozens of Seals at Popular California Wildlife Destination

A rare and deadly strain of bird flu has struck one of California’s most iconic wildlife destinations. Officials have temporarily…

Feb- 2026 -

28 February

California Lawmakers Explore Plan to Reintroduce Grizzly Bears

For more than a century, California’s most iconic animal has existed only as a symbol on the state flag. Now,…

18 February

Hundreds of Salmon Found Dead in Yuba River After Infrastructure Failure

A sudden equipment failure at the Yuba Water Agency’s New Colgate Powerhouse has left hundreds, and possibly thousands, of young…

12 February

Gray Wolf Tracked in Los Angeles County for First Time in 100 Years

A young gray wolf has pushed into new territory, and possibly into the history books. State wildlife officials say a…

10 February

California Biologists Successfully GPS-Collar One of North America’s Rarest Mammals

California wildlife biologists have reached a major milestone in the effort to protect one of North America’s rarest mammals: the…

8 February

Gray Wolf Dies During State Tracking Operation in Northern California

A female gray wolf from Northern California’s Harvey pack has died after being captured by state wildlife officials during an…

4 February

More Than 10,000 Salmon Found Their Way Back to This California River

Photo via EBMUD More than 10,000 Chinook salmon made the long journey home this year, returning from the Pacific Ocean…

3 February

This California National Park Urges Visitors to Tarp Their Parked Vehicles. Here’s Why.

In the southern section of Sequoia National Park, the National Park Service (NPS) is advising visitors to follow an unusual…

3 February

The Wolf Tracked in Truckee Made an Extraordinary Journey

A gray wolf recently tracked near Truckee did not simply wander into town. It completed an extraordinary journey from Lassen…

2 February

Truckee Residents Alerted After Wolf Activity Recorded Nearby

Wolf activity was recorded in the Truckee area on Sunday, prompting a community awareness notice from the Truckee Police Department.…

2 February

Whale Watchers Witness Extremely Rare ‘Tail Walking’ Dolphin in Monterey Bay

Whale watchers off the California Coast recently witnessed something few people ever see at sea. During a recent trip in…

1 February

Rare Weasel-Like Mammal Spotted in Northern California Forests During New Study

Photo via Oregon State University The Pacific Northwest has no shortage of charismatic wildlife, but one of its cutest residents…

Jan- 2026 -

30 January

The Coyote That Swam to Alcatraz Appears to Be Thriving

A coyote that stunned visitors by swimming across San Francisco Bay to Alcatraz Island earlier this month appears to be…

27 January

Fishermen Sue Tire Manufacturers Over Chemical Linked to West Coast Salmon Deaths

A federal courtroom in San Francisco is becoming the latest battleground over the future of West Coast salmon. On Jan.…

25 January

Repeated Wolf Attacks Push Sierra Valley Ranchers to Breaking Point, Sheriffs Say

Authorities in Northern California say ongoing wolf attacks on livestock in the Sierra Valley have escalated beyond an agricultural dispute…

25 January

How Science and Engineering Are Helping Salmon Return to the McCloud River

After four years of testing, tweaking, and collaboration, a pioneering effort near Shasta Reservoir is offering new hope for one…

24 January

Yosemite Deer Attack Highlights Why Visitors Should Keep Their Distance

A past incident in Yosemite National Park is serving as a stark reminder that wildlife viewing is not a hands-on…

23 January

Why Nearly One Million Baby Salmon Are Being Raised in Northern California Rice Fields

Nearly one million young Chinook salmon are getting an unusual head start on life this week by growing up in…

21 January

The Giants of Drakes Beach: A Closer Look at Point Reyes’ Elephant Seals

Every winter, a stretch of sand at Drakes Beach turns into one of Northern California’s most unforgettable wildlife spectacles. That’s…

20 January

California Awards $10M+ to Restore Salmon and Steelhead Across the State

California is putting more money behind its promise to bring salmon back. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has…

20 January

Nearly 500,000 Chinook Salmon Fry Released Into the Sacramento River

Nearly half a million young Chinook salmon are now on the move in the upper Sacramento River. Last Friday, Coleman…

20 January

A Swimming Coyote? Videos Confirm First-Ever Sighting at Alcatraz

Visitors expect sweeping bay views and historic cellblocks when they step onto Alcatraz Island — not a swimming coyote. But…

19 January

Video of Tahoe Cubs Playing in a Pond is the Cutest Thing You’ll See Today

The bear populations of Lake Tahoe are something of legend. Seeing a bear in the Tahoe Basin isn’t a rare…

15 January

Bald Eagle Sightings Increase at Lake Tahoe After Low 2025 Count

Winter skies over Lake Tahoe were noticeably busier last week as volunteers spotted 23 bald eagles during the basin’s annual…

15 January

California Ranching Groups Seek $30 Million to Manage Growing Wolf Population

The debate over wolves and livestock in Northern California is once again heating up as ranching groups push for expanded…

14 January

California Wildlife Officials Scale Back Search for Two Wolves Linked to Major Livestock Losses

Wildlife officials have scaled back efforts to capture two remaining juvenile gray wolves linked to a surge of livestock deaths…

12 January

One Wolf Pack Cost California and Ranchers $2.6 Million, According to New UC Davis Study

A single wolf pack in Northern California caused extraordinary economic damage last year, highlighting the growing tension between wolf recovery…

12 January

Diver Stumbles Upon One of the World’s Rarest Fish in Monterey Bay

Photo via Ted Judah A routine morning dive in Monterey Bay turned into a once-in-a-lifetime encounter when a local diver…

10 January

Watch a Mountain Lion in a Standoff with Coyotes in Yosemite

This video is old, but boy does it show the chaotic wildlife of Yosemite National Park in action. The below…

7 January

A Deadly Attack on a Family Horse Highlights Rising Tensions Over Wolf Activity in Northern California

A New Year’s Day wolf attack in Lassen County that killed a family horse and a newly weaned calf is…

7 January

Lake Monsters: Here’s Why Sturgeon Grow to Be So Big in Shasta Lake

Massive sturgeon caught on Shasta Lake in 2018. Photo: Sou Saephan For anyone who’s been lucky enough to take a…

6 January

Lassen County Officials Raise Alarm Over Growing Wolf Conflicts

Concerns are growing in Lassen County after a recent spike in wolf attacks on livestock, prompting the county sheriff to…

1 January

First Elephant Seal Pup of the Season Born at Point Reyes

The winter wildlife season is officially underway at Point Reyes National Seashore, where the first northern elephant seal pup of…

Dec- 2025 -

30 December

Wildlife Officials to Use Helicopters to Collar Deer, Elk, and Wolves Across Northern California

Wildlife managers across Northern California will soon take to the skies as part of a major effort to better understand…

23 December

How Scientists Are Using AI to Track Salmon on the Klamath River After Dam Removal

Photo via CalTrout Just one year after the historic removal of four dams on the Klamath River, scientists are already…

22 December

Two People Sought for Throwing Rocks at Elephant Seal at Point Reyes

The National Park Service is asking for the public’s help identifying two people accused of harassing an elephant seal at…

20 December

U.S. House Passes Bill to Remove Gray Wolves From Endangered Species List

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, a bill that would remove the gray…

17 December

Wildlife Officials Abandon Search for Juvenile Wolves After Historic Euthanization

California wildlife officials have scaled back their efforts to locate three young gray wolves believed to be the last remaining…

17 December

This Quiet Creek in Northern California Just Shattered its Salmon Count Record

A historic salmon run returned to Northern California this fall, with a record 2,150 adult Chinook salmon counted spawning in…

17 December

Why So Many Shark Attacks Happen in Northern California’s Red Triangle

California just recorded its third reported shark attack of the year—and once again, it happened along Northern California’s rugged coastline.…

15 December

More Than 10 Million Chinook Salmon Raised at Feather River Hatchery This Season

Spawning season has wrapped up at the Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville, and the numbers point to a major…

14 December

First Salmon Poaching Case Reported in Newly Reopened Klamath River Habitat

The return of Chinook salmon to the upper Klamath River Basin has been one of Northern California’s biggest conservation success…

13 December

Legal Fight May Loom After NOAA Denies Endangered Status for Chinook Salmon

Federal fisheries officials have denied a request to list West Coast Chinook salmon as threatened or endangered under the Endangered…

12 December

Wolf Sightings Near Siskiyou County Elementary School Prompt School Safety Measures

Wolf activity reported near Little Shasta Elementary School prompted increased monitoring and safety measures this week in the Shasta Valley,…

12 December

Salmon Return to the Russian River for First Time in Over 30 Years

Northern California’s salmon recovery efforts reached a major milestone this summer, as juvenile coho salmon were spotted in the upper…

10 December

Why California Began Killing Mountain Lions in the Name of Conservation

California has long been known as a refuge for mountain lions, which have been protected from sport hunting for decades.…

10 December

Federal Government Denies Endangered Listings for West Coast Chinook Salmon

The federal government announced Monday that it will not list Western Coast Chinook salmon as threatened or endangered under the…

9 December

The Gray Whale Migration Is Back. Here’s Where to See Them on The Northern California Coast.

While winter usually means ski trips and mountain escapes, another seasonal spectacle is unfolding along the Northern California coastline —…

9 December

Sonoma Coast Poacher Arrested with 15 Abalone as Statewide Ban Continues

A nighttime patrol along the Sonoma Coast led California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers to arrest a man…

8 December

California’s Monarch Butterfly Numbers Continue to Plummet With One of the Lowest Tallies Ever

Western monarch butterflies have begun settling into their overwintering sites along the California coast, but early numbers show another troublingly…

7 December

New NOAA Study Shows West Coast Salmon Are Finally Bouncing Back

A new NOAA Fisheries study offers rare good news for West Coast salmon and steelhead: most populations protected under the…

3 December

How Scientists Track Chinook Salmon Migrating Up the Sacramento River in Real Time

Photo courtesy Miles Daniels/NOAA Fisheries/UCSC Thousands of fall run Chinook salmon pushed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and into the…

2 December

Lawsuit Planned After Feds Halt Wolf Recovery Plan as Northern California Packs Grow

The Center for Biological Diversity announced this week that it intends to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after…

1 December

Whaleback Wolf Pack Adds 10 New Pups as Activity Grows Near Mount Shasta

California’s gray wolves continue their slow comeback, and the latest update from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)…

Nov- 2025 -

28 November

California Invests $87 Million in Salmon, Steelhead, and River Restoration

California is making one of its largest recent investments in river restoration and fish recovery, approving $87 million in grants…

26 November

Klamath River Sees Nearly 10,000 Migrating Salmon in First Major Post-Dam Count

The Klamath River is roaring back to life. CalTrout has released its preliminary in-season estimate for salmon migrating past the…

25 November

Chinook Salmon Swim Up Alameda Creek for the First Time in 70 Years

For the first time since the 1950s, Chinook salmon are once again swimming upstream in Alameda Creek, and they did…

21 November

Tahoe Bear Attack Sends Two 87-Year-Old Residents to Hospital

Wildlife officials are urging caution in the Tahoe region after a black bear broke into a home near Kingsbury Grade…

19 November

‘There Are Salmon Everywhere”: Klamath River Sees Remarkable Recovery Just a Year After Dam Removal

Just over a year after four hydroelectric dams were removed from the Klamath River, biologists are seeing something many thought…

18 November

Wildlife Official Discover New Wolf Pack in Northern California as Populations Surge

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed a brand-new wolf family in Northern California. Called the Grizzly pack,…

18 November

Over 330,000 Juvenile Chinook Salmon Released into Sacramento River as Storms Boost River Flows

A major boost for Northern California’s struggling Chinook salmon population is underway on Battle Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento…

Oct- 2025 -

30 October

Shocking Video Shows Bear Devouring Live Deer in Yosemite

A video was shared to social media showing some of the most shocking wildlife footage in Northern California that we’ve…

30 October

Three Wolf Pups Still Missing After California Officials Euthanize Adult Pack Members

Weeks after state wildlife officials euthanized the adult members of the Beyem Seyo wolf pack in Sierra Valley, three surviving…

30 October

Tule Elk Reintroduced to Sierra Foothills in Landmark Tribal Land Restoration

In a landmark move for tribal sovereignty and ecological restoration, California announced the return of 17,030 acres of ancestral land…

28 October

How Scientists Brought the Legendary Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Back to Lake Tahoe

After nearly 90 years, Lahontan cutthroat trout have made a historic return to Lake Tahoe. This milestone is part of…

27 October

Whale Deaths Along California Coast Spark Lawsuit Against Federal Agencies

Photo by NPS / Sarah Codde Two major conservation organizations — the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the…

26 October

Could South Lake Tahoe Become America’s First ‘Bear Sanctuary City’?

Could South Lake Tahoe soon be known not just for its alpine beauty, but as a refuge for black bears?…

24 October

Officials Euthanize Four Gray Wolves in Northern California After Surge in Livestock Attacks

California wildlife officials have taken the rare step of euthanizing four gray wolves in the Sierra Valley, following an unprecedented…

23 October

California Declares Open Season on Invasive Swans

California hunters will soon be allowed to take invasive mute swans year-round under new legislation signed into law earlier this…

21 October

Wild Black Bear Pays a Surprise Visit to Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka

Visitors weren’t the only ones checking out the animals at the Sequoia Park Zoo this week. A wild black bear…

20 October

Salmon Are Surging Far Beyond Expectations After Klamath River Dam Removal

Just months after the historic removal of four major dams on the Klamath River, scientists and tribal leaders are stunned…

7 October

New Wildlife Crossing Nears Completion on Highway 97 in Siskiyou County

A new wildlife crossing in Siskiyou County is nearly complete, marking a major step toward safer roads and healthier ecosystems…

6 October

Kokanee Salmon Spawning Season Set to Return to Taylor Creek in Tahoe

Each fall, one of Lake Tahoe’s most unique wildlife spectacles comes alive at Taylor Creek. The Kokanee salmon are preparing…

5 October

The Best Places to Go Bird Watching in Siskiyou County

Brought to you by Discover Siskiyou In a world with more than its share of quirky people, “bird nerds,” those…

4 October

Wildlife Officials Prepare for Salmon to Return to Lower Klamath Lake

After more than a century away, salmon are once again pushing farther upstream on the Klamath River, and water managers…