A gray wolf was spotted last week in rural Lake County, marking new territory for the endangered carnivore in California’s Coast Range.
The sighting, one of the closest to the Bay Area in modern times, was confirmed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in and around the Mendocino National Forest, not far from Lake Pillsbury.
State wildlife officials do not know whether the wolf, which is believed to be 3 or 4 years old, is traveling alone and looking for a mate or is in the process of establishing a pack. Either way, it’s one of few wolves documented west of Interstate 5 since the return of wolves to the state after being killed off a century ago. Other wolves detected close to the state’s coast have been near Oregon or in Southern California…