California’s wild identity lives in its California condors, gray wolves, mountain lions, southern sea otters, western monarch butterflies, giant sequoias, Chinook salmon, and the Mojave desert tortoise.
In 2025, these species symbolize both hope and urgency.
Below is a clear, up-to-date look at where they stand, the biggest developments shaping their future, and what Californians can do right now to keep them thriving.
California Condor- A 2025 Rebound With Clear Risks
Once reduced to just 22 birds in the 1980s, the California condor population now exceeds 560 individuals, with 360+ living in the wild across California, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, and Baja California.
Central California is poised for another bump in numbers, with fall releases expected to push the regional flock to around 123 birds even after late-summer losses.
The primary challenge in 2025 remains lead poisoning from ingested bullet fragments in carcasses.
Reducing lead exposure and continuing captive breeding and field releases are the levers keeping this flagship recovery moving forward.
Gray Wolves- Ten Confirmed Packs And Growing Range
California’s gray wolves continued their natural comeback in 2025, with 10 confirmed packs statewide, including expansion as far south as Tulare County.
A decade of monitoring now shows steadily increasing pack formation, denning, and dispersal.
While coexistence tools (range riders, fladry, carcass management) are improving, the state must keep scaling conflict-reduction programs and public reporting so wolves and ranching families can succeed side by side.
Mountain Lions- Connectivity Projects Enter Final Stretch
California’s mountain lions still face fragmented habitats, vehicle strikes, and genetic isolation—especially in the Santa Monica Mountains.
The landmark Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over U.S.-101 entered its final construction phase in mid-2025 and is on track for completion by fall 2026.
This will be the world’s largest wildlife crossing, designed to reconnect long-isolated populations and reduce roadkill.
In parallel, researchers expanded 2025 lion surveys in under-studied desert ranges to guide the next wave of corridor and rodenticide-reduction strategies.
Southern Sea Otter- Stable Core, Sharper Monitoring
The southern sea otter holds near ~3,000 animals statewide, with Monterey Bay averaging ~500 otters along its coastline.
Full coast-wide census work resumed recently, improving trend estimates after pandemic-era gaps.
The biggest limiter remains white-shark bite hotspots, which have pinched north- and south-range expansion.
Managers are pairing improved monitoring with kelp and eelgrass restoration to rebuild prey webs and shelter, while communities continue clean-water actions that reduce disease and pollution risks.
Western Monarch Butterfly: Alarming Low, Intensive Response
The western monarch overwintering count for winter 2024–25 fell to 9,119 butterflies, the second-lowest tally since standardized counts began in the 1990s.
Extreme heat, drought stress, habitat loss, and pesticides are the drivers behind the decline.
For 2025–26, conservation groups are scaling coastal roost protection, pesticide reform, and year-round plantings of native milkweed and nectar sources to stabilize the population while federal protection decisions progress.
Giant Sequoias- Good Fire To Save Ancient Trees
In 2025, managers increased prescribed burns and strategic thinning around famous groves in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, including Grant Grove and Ash Mountain.
These carefully planned “good fires” reduce fuel loads that feed catastrophic wildfire while creating safer buffers around ancient sequoias such as the General Grant Tree.
The recipe is straightforward but urgent: expand proactive burning windows, strengthen local air-quality coordination, and continue community education so these trees survive a hotter, drier future.
Salmon- Klamath Reopens And A Cautious 2025 Fishery
The removal of four main-stem dams on the Klamath River—the largest river restoration in U.S. history (~$500 million)—has reconnected 400+ miles of historical habitat.
By late 2025, Chinook salmon were observed moving upstream to reaches blocked for a century, a promising early sign.
On the ocean side, California set a highly limited 2025 salmon season, with a 7,500-fish fall harvest guideline between Point Reyes and Point Sur and swift closures once the cap was reached.
The twin pillars of recovery are now in place: free-flowing habitat and tight, adaptive fishery management.
Mojave Desert Tortoise: State Protection Strengthened
Following decades of decline, the Mojave desert tortoise advanced to endangered status under California law in June 2025.
The listing elevates habitat safeguards, permitting standards, and on-the-ground recovery actions such as head-start programs, predator management (notably raven control near nesting areas), and road-crossing retrofits.
The goal is to stabilize local populations while climate-resilient corridors keep the species connected across the California desert.
Quick Reference (2025)
| Species | 2025 Snapshot | Key 2025 Update | Main Threats | What’s Being Done |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California condor | 560+ total, 360+ wild; Central CA ~123 with fall releases | Ongoing captive breeding and releases; targeted rescues | Lead poisoning, power-line collisions, avian flu | Non-lead ammo outreach, field triage, frequent releases |
| Gray wolf | 10 packs confirmed statewide | Packs expanding south; decade-long monitoring milestone | Livestock conflict, illegal take, habitat fragmentation | Conflict-reduction tools, public reporting, outreach |
| Mountain lion | Widespread but fragmented | 101 wildlife crossing in final phase; completion fall 2026 | Vehicle strikes, isolation, rodenticides | Landscape connectivity, corridor mapping, toxicant reform |
| Southern sea otter | ~3,000 statewide; ~500 in Monterey Bay | Full census resumed; stable core areas | Shark bites, disease, pollution | Kelp/eelgrass restoration, water-quality actions |
| Western monarch | 9,119 butterflies in winter 2024–25 | 2025–26 season scaling habitat work | Habitat loss, pesticides, extreme heat | Roost protection, native milkweed + nectar plantings |
| Giant sequoias | Surviving elders; local regeneration | 2025 prescribed burns in key groves | High-severity wildfire, climate stress | Proactive “good fire,” fuels reduction, community education |
| Chinook salmon | Upstream movement returning | Klamath dam removal (~$500M); 7,500-fish 2025 cap | Past barriers, warm/dry conditions | Habitat reconnection, adaptive fishery limits |
| Mojave desert tortoise | State status elevated | Listed endangered (June 2025) | Habitat loss, vehicles, ravens, disease | Stronger permitting, head-starts, crossing retrofits |
What These 2025 Moves Mean For California
California’s conservation playbook is getting more sophisticated—and more urgent.
Connectivity projects such as the U.S.-101 crossing will help mountain lions and other wildlife maintain healthy genetics and avoid deadly roads.
Dam removals like the Klamath are restoring entire watersheds for salmon, steelhead, and lamprey. Good-fire programs are giving giant sequoias a fighting chance.
Meanwhile, targeted releases and non-lead ammunition adoption are crucial for condors, and statewide habitat work is essential to pull western monarchs back from the brink.
The thread running through all of this: climate-wise, science-driven action at landscape scale, paired with everyday choices by Californians.
How You Can Help Right Now
- Choose non-lead ammunition if you hunt, and properly dispose of game remains to protect scavengers like condors, eagles, and ravens.
- Plant native milkweed and nectar sources away from pesticide drift to support monarchs—and keep planting throughout the year for seasonal bloom.
- Support wildlife corridors and crossing projects in local planning processes; safer roads help mountain lions, deer, bobcats, and more.
- Respect prescribed burn notices and temporary closures—they’re protecting giant sequoias and other fire-adapted ecosystems.
- Volunteer for coastal cleanups and watershed days to reduce marine debris and improve water quality for otters and salmon.
California’s most iconic wildlife are at an inflection point. Condors are climbing, wolves are spreading, and salmon finally have a river opening before them.
At the same time, monarchs need urgent help, mountain lions need safe passage, and giant sequoias need more good fire to survive the century ahead.
The path forward is clear: invest in connectivity, keep scaling habitat restoration, use smart, adaptive management, and empower communities to make simple, high-impact choices—non-lead ammunition, native plantings, clean water, and support for crossings and burns.
If California stays this course in 2025 and beyond, these emblematic species won’t just survive—they’ll define a thriving, resilient wild future for the state.
FAQs
Which species showed the most promising 2025 momentum?
California condors continued to grow through coordinated breeding and releases, and gray wolves reached 10 confirmed packs, signaling a steady return.
What’s the most alarming trend right now?
The western monarch count of 9,119 in winter 2024–25 is deeply concerning and underscores the need for habitat restoration and pesticide reduction along the coast and inland flyways.
What milestone could most transform long-term recovery?
The Klamath dam removal—reconnecting 400+ miles of habitat—paired with the U.S.-101 wildlife crossing (target fall 2026) will shape the next several decades for salmon, mountain lions, and a suite of other species.