Aug. 20--State officials have confirmed that a gray wolf pack is now established in Northern California, a family that includes two adult black-furred wolves and five pups.
The discovery of the animals, called the Shasta pack, came earlier this month with the aid of cameras placed on trails in Siskiyou County.
Wildlife officials expressed delight.
"We were really excited if not amazed" at how rapidly wolves have recolonized, said Eric Loft, chief of Wildlife Branch for California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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Officials were also surprised at the speed at which a lone male wolf -- which had been spotted wandering in the region -- had found a mate and started a family.
The young wolves are thought to be 4 months old.
The wolves are not believed to have descended from OR-7, whose discovery in Northern California four years ago was the first sighting of a wolf in California since 1924, officials said.
OR-7 had migrated from Oregon and has since returned to that state and formed his own pack.
Wolves are protected under both state and federal law, although California's plan to manage wolves is still being formulated.
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