Increasing Wolf Activity in Siskiyou County

As many in the community are aware, recent wolf sightings have been reported near Little Shasta, reflecting a broader trend of increasing wolf activity throughout Siskiyou County.

Siskiyou County is a rural, wilderness-surrounded region, and residents have long lived alongside wildlife. While this familiarity is part of daily life, it does not lessen the importance of awareness or preparedness. As wolf populations range closer to homes, trails, and working lands, encounters must be taken seriously.

This recent sighting underscores the fact that wolves are an ever-growing presence in Siskiyou County due to their dependency on available food sources, including livestock, and incidents involving proximity to human activity.

Prior to the recent sighting and in response to the escalating predator activity, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors signed a Local Emergency Proclamation on November 18, 2025, allowing for enhanced coordination and public safety response. Read the full, signed Local Emergency Proclamation in the supporting documents below.

The County is actively coordinating with local, state, and regional partners, affected landowners, and community stakeholders, and will continue working on behalf of our communities to address public safety concerns and ongoing impacts related to increasing wolf activity.

What to Do if You Encounter a Wolf

• Do not approach a wolf under any circumstances.
• If you have a close encounter with a wolf or wolves, do not run. Maintain eye contact.
• Act aggressively, make noise while retreating slowly.
• If the wolf does not retreat, continue acting aggressively by yelling or throwing objects.
• Keep pets leashed and under control

If you encounter a wolf and believe you are in imminent danger, call 911 immediately.

Learn more about what to do if you encounter a wolf.

Reporting Wolf Sightings

Prompt reporting supports public safety and effective response.

To report non-emergency wolf sightings online, please visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Reporting portal.

Please report a killed animal immediately to (530) 225-2300 or californiawolfsightings@wildlife.ca.gov.