California wildlife officials kill 4 gray wolves over Sierra Valley livestock attacks

(FOX40.COM) — Following an unprecedented level of livestock attacks across the Sierra Valley, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife killed four gray wolves believed to be responsible for them.

Gray wolves are protected as an endangered species under both state and federal law, the California Endangered Species Act and the federal Endangered Species Act. However, lethal removal is permitted only under strict conditions.

The decision to kill the wolves came after major livestock losses in the state. Between March 28 and Sept. 10, CDFW reported that the wolves were responsible for 70 total livestock losses. In total, there were 110 confirmed or probable wolf-caused livestock losses statewide during that time.

CDFW said it worked in partnership with the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife to take the difficult step. Four wolves were killed, including a juvenile wolf that was mistaken for another wolf believed to have attacked livestock.

The lethal action followed months of intensive non-lethal management efforts aimed at reducing livestock loss and “is grounded in the best available science and understanding of wolf biology,” according to CDFW.   

Some of the non-lethal efforts included the use of drones, non-lethal bean bags, all-terrain vehicles, foot presence, diversionary feeding, fladry installation, and field presence 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“This decision was not made lightly nor was it easy,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “Despite extensive non-lethal efforts, including hazing and adaptive tools used by our Summer Strike Team, these wolves continued to prey on livestock. The situation with this pack is far outside any comparable experience across the state or the West, making the long-term recovery of gray wolves much harder.”

According to the CDFW, gray wolves naturally prey on wild ungulates, such as deer and elk, rather than livestock. The wolves that were killed made a habit of preying on cattle, a feeding pattern that persisted and was being taught to their offspring. CDFW said the offspring could form their own packs and pass on the same cattle-preying behavior.

“Several things can be true simultaneously,” Bonham said. “Wolves are here in California and that is an amazing ecological return. Yet, their reemergence is a significant, disruptive change for rural communities. Wolves are one of the state’s most iconic species, and coexistence is our collective future, but that comes with tremendous responsibility and sometimes hard decisions.”

Bonham added, “The Beyem Seyo pack became so reliant on cattle at an unprecedented level, and we could not break the cycle, which ultimately is not good for the long-term recovery of wolves or for people.”   

For more information on gray wolves living in California, and actions individuals can take to deter wolves from their ranching properties visit wildlife.ca.gov.