California’s desperate wolves are turning to incest to keep the bloodline going.

Nearly a quarter of the wolves in the state were “born to pairs of siblings” from the Whaleback Pack in Northern California, according to the California Wolf Watch.

“The first confirmed pack identified with inbreeding in California in 2026 was the Ashpan Pack. Female wolf WHA29F, also known as CA124, a gray wolf born in 2024 to the Whaleback Pack, produced 5 pups with male wolf WHA07M, also known as CA051, a black male wolf born in 2021 to the Whaleback Pack,” the California Wolf Watch said.

“The second confirmed pack identified with inbreeding in California in 2026 was the Ice Cave Pack,” the group added.

Data recorded by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) –– under the name “California’s Known Wolves” –– also shows inbreeding activities among wolves. CDFW findings show the Beyem Seyo and Ashcan pack being part of these instances.

Despite one-quarter of wolves inbreeding with one another, one official is not concerned.

“At this point, I would not characterize inbreeding as an immediate threat to the viability of California’s wolf population,” CDFW gray wolf expert Axel Hunnicutt told KTLA 5.

“California wolves remain connected to the larger western wolf population, and wolves continue to disperse into California from Oregon and breed with animals representing different genetic lineages. We continue to document that gene flow annually,” she continued to say.

While inbreeding among established wolves are rare, it is not uncommon in small and isolated populations.

Other animals such as cheetahs have resorted to inbreeding as a result of near-extinction as well.

“Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) have faced extinction at least two times in the past after their populations were reduced, leading to inbreeding,” National Geographic wrote in an article.

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