Exclusive Video: Wolf sighting near La Pine highlights growing presence in Central Oregon
SOUTHERN DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — A quiet drive home turned into a rare, and for some, unsettling wildlife encounter in southern Deschutes County.
A wolf sighting near La Pine is once again putting a spotlight on the growing presence of apex predators in Central Oregon. The video, captured by a local college student, was shared exclusively with KTVZ News.
A rare encounter on a familiar road
Kendall Graham, a COCC student, was driving home from a church group along Wagon Trail Ranch Road when something unusual caught her eye.
“This big, what looks to be a dog, came across the street,” she said. But a second look quickly changed everything.
“We look closer at it and I was like, oh my gosh, that’s a wolf.” Graham pulled out her phone and recorded the moment—a clear, up-close look at one of Oregon’s most elusive predators.
Sightings on the rise
The sighting happened near La Pine, an area where wildlife and growing neighborhoods increasingly overlap. And it may not be an isolated encounter. When asked about activity in the area, Graham said her brother had a similar experience. “Yeah, he saw one closer to the town of La Pine.”
There are several known wolf packs in Central Oregon, and as their population grows, alongside expanding rural development, sightings like this are becoming more common.
In 2026 alone, KTVZ has reported exclusive videos of wolf sightings in Sunriver, Bend, and the McKenzie River Ranger District.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) currently tracks nearly every wolf pack in the state. There are currently four packs located in Deschutes County, with additional packs in Jefferson and Crook counties. While ODFW tries to place a tracking collar on at least one member of every pack, the agency relies heavily on public reports because technology can sometimes fail.
A growing divide
Not everyone is reacting the same way. Conservation groups say the increase in wolf populations reflects years of successful protection efforts.
“Wolves made progress towards recovery across the country because of the protections of the Endangered Species Act,” said Collette Adkins with the Center for Biological Diversity. “And when wolves are federally protected, what we see is that the states work more closely with the livestock operators.”
But others, especially in rural and agricultural communities, see it differently. “A wolf is a killing machine. It is truly in the business of killing,” said Republican Congressman Cliff Bentz.
That divide is playing out in neighborhoods like Graham’s, where excitement and concern are now side by side.
Awe—and anxiety—close to home
For Graham, the moment was unforgettable. “I was like, oh my gosh, this is awesome. I never thought I’d get to see one of these in the wild.”
But she says not everyone nearby feels the same way. Some neighbors are worried about pets and safety as sightings move closer to home.
KTVZ News has reported extensively on wolf populations, conservationist efforts to protect the species, and the coexistence and struggles with ranchers. Find those in-depth reports below:
- Oregon wolf population climbs in 2025, but conflict with livestock rises sharply
- Trump administration pushes to remove gray wolves from Endangered Species Act protections
- Oregon’s wolves surge to historic high, but sparks new farm frustration
- Oregon family farm seeks changes to federal protections after lone wolf kills several calves
