Wolf Hybrid On The Loose in Sebastopol Outskirts, California Officials Warn 'Do Not Approach'

Officials in Sebastopol, California, who were unaware that the sighting was of a wolf hybrid alerted the residents to stay away, saying, "Do not approach!""

Wandering Wolf Hybrid in Sebastopol, California

A wandering wolf hybrid in Sonoma County had residents on edge. The animal, named Shadow, is now safely reunited with its owner.

Over the weekend, numerous sightings led to warnings from Sebastopol police, urging residents not to approach the yellow-eyed animal and to report sightings to law enforcement.

Initially, authorities were unsure of the threat level posed by the wolf hybrid and its ownership status, causing concern among locals.

There were 30 to 40 sightings over a few days, including in the Santa Rosa neighborhood of Rickenbacker, where people often walked their dogs.

Tracking Down Shadow, The Wolf Hybrid

Authorities were alerted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that the wolf hybrid was seen heading south of the Highway 12 bridge near Sebastopol on Sunday morning.

Despite efforts to capture it, they couldn't apprehend the animal, and it was spotted again on Sunday night, running along Highway 12 toward Santa Rosa.

The highway had to be temporarily closed to prevent an accident.

Subsequent investigations through social media and other resources revealed that the wolf hybrid had an owner in Santa Rosa.

The owner, along with two Huskies, attempted to corner the escaped animal, but it evaded capture.

Due to the weather conditions and the wolf hybrid's movement into open space, animal control officials temporarily halted their efforts.

However, on Monday morning, there was another sighting near the animal's home in Santa Rosa, and this time, they successfully contained and reunited the wolf hybrid with its owner.

Shadow Reunites With His Owner

Scott, along with another animal care officer, a good Samaritan who is Shadow's owner with his two dogs, successfully captured the wolf hybrid.

It was a challenge to leash him, requiring them to corner him and help him calm down.

An emotional reunion was captured in a photo, showing the owner embracing Shadow. North Bay Animal Services shared the images on social media, highlighting the positive impact of teamwork on the well-being of these four-legged friends.

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Wolfdog Hybrids in Sonoma County

According to Scott, it's uncommon for residents to keep wolf hybrids as pets in Sonoma County. These hybrids are relatively rare and known for their significant size, even larger than a Husky.

They require a lot of attention and are highly intelligent. The 2-year-old wolf hybrid demonstrated its intelligence by exploiting an improperly latched gate to escape, potentially being a mix with Huskies.

While Shadow turned out to be an owned animal, he's predominantly wolf, evident in his yellow eyes.

Scott emphasized that wolf hybrids can adapt quickly to survive.

This incident was the agency's first dealing with such a case, and he praised the residents and multi-agency collaboration for safely reuniting Shadow with his owner.

Wolfdogs or wolf hybrids, typically weigh between 50 and 100 pounds. They are not currently legal in California but may be if they meet certain criteria.

Wolfdogs must be registered, healthy, and kept in secure indoor enclosures.

While considered a domesticated breed in California, they require close supervision when kept as pets.