Wolves Detected in Nevada for First Time in Eight Years

RENO, Nev.— The Nevada Department of Wildlife has announced that it detected three animals thought to be wolves in northern Elko County. This is the first time that wolves have been documented in Nevada since 2016.

“I’m so happy to welcome wolves back to the Silver State where they belong,” said Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Wolves are a vital part of healthy mountain ecosystems in the West, and there’s plenty of room for them to thrive in Nevada.”

The animals were first detected on March 17 by a helicopter crew that was contracted by the department to radio-collar moose. The crew reported its sighting to the department, which then coordinated with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a search plan. This led to a site visit by department staff, who discovered tracks, collected scat for DNA-testing and set out trail cameras.

The area where these wolves were detected is a mix of high desert sagebrush steppe and mountains forested in pinyon pine and juniper, with more mountainous forests at higher elevations. Northern Elko County is rich in ungulates like moose, elk, deer and pronghorns, which provide a food source for wolves.

At 2 to 3 years old, wolves typically disperse from the pack in which they’re born and set off to seek mates and territories of their own. They can wander hundreds of miles in this search.

While state officials don’t yet know where these wolves came from, California, Oregon and Idaho could all become good source populations for more wolves to make their way into Nevada.

The wolf confirmed in Nevada in 2016 was determined, through genetic analysis of scat collected from the animal, to be an offspring of neighboring California’s Shasta pack.

Any wolves dispersing into Nevada or establishing packs there are protected as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Killing or harming wolves is prohibited and punishable by fines and jail time.

“State and federal wildlife officials should do everything they can to ensure these wolves are protected,” said Weiss. “Wolves are symbols of the wildness of the West, and Nevada is as wild as it gets. It’s truly inspiring to watch as wolves continue to recover under the protections of the Endangered Species Act.”

Wolves historically ranged through Nevada. Federal trappers reported capturing wolves in the northern half of the state throughout the early part of the 20th century. As is true across the country, wolves were systematically exterminated from Nevada through a system of bounties.