California wildlife project offers families chance to track deer, elk and wolves

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is launching an exciting wildlife tracking program in northern California that will allow families to follow the journeys of deer, elk and gray wolves through an interactive online tool. Starting in January 2026, wildlife teams will use helicopters to safely capture and fit animals with GPS collars in portions of Alameda, Colusa, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Santa Clara, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama counties. The department plans to collar mule deer along with tule and Rocky Mountain elk during operations throughout January. Scientists will focus wolf collaring efforts in Siskiyou, Lassen and Tehama counties, with possible work in Modoc, Shasta and Plumas counties as well. After receiving collars, wolves will be released in nearby suitable public lands. Parents looking for educational opportunities can use this program to teach children about wildlife conservation and animal behavior. The GPS collars send location updates to scientists each day for up to three years, creating a treasure trove of information about where animals travel, what habitats they prefer and how they move across the landscape. For families interested in wolves specifically, the department maintains an online Wolf Tracker mapping tool that displays movement patterns and locations. While the collars don't transmit information instantly, the regular updates allow children to see where wolf packs roam and learn about their territories. The tracking data helps scientists understand how many animals live in different areas, where they migrate, survival patterns and how populations grow — all topics that can spark curiosity in young nature enthusiasts. Wildlife officials will conduct operations on state lands, U.S. Forest Service property, Bureau of Land Management areas and private lands where owners have granted permission. The department thanked the Forest Service, land management bureau, timber companies and private landowners for supporting the research. wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Gray-Wolf/Location-Map?