Latest news with #graywolves
CBS News
13 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
California launches new strike team to help stop wolves from killing livestock
The number of gray wolves in California continues to grow, and ranchers say they're to blame for a number of attacks against livestock. Wolves are a protected species, and it's illegal to intentionally kill them unless someone's life is in danger. Now, there is a new tactic being deployed in California to help prevent any more conflicts. California's Department of Fish and Wildlife is launching a new strike team to help stop wolves from killing cattle and other farm animals. Wolves are native to California but had been missing from the state for nearly a century. Today, there are now ten established packs, with an estimated 70 individual wolves, predominantly in the northern state. "You've got wolves constantly leaving the pack, and you've got pups coming in every year," said Patrick Griffin, Siskiyou County's wolf liaison. The growing number of wolves is causing concern for livestock owners "There have been over 80 cattle killed by the wolves, so that has been kind of hard for the ranchers to take," Griffin said. But just a small fraction of overall deaths are caused by wolves. Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, estimates that "90 to 95 percent of cattle losses are due to causes that have nothing to do with any predator of any kind." The state's new wolf strike team will monitor sightings and use GPS collars to track the animals. Team members can then respond when wolves approach livestock. "The wardens that are providing the assistance might be able to do something like use rubber bullets or cracker shells or beanbag shells," Weiss said. "These are munitions which are not designed to kill. It is possible that the game wardens might also be using drones to scare wolves away." This pilot project is scheduled to last through the summer and it's voluntary for ranchers to participate. "The problem is there's still some concern among ranchers about having California Fish and Wildlife present on their properties, so in places that might work, there will be places that it won't work," Griffin said. State wildlife officials say they've also paid out more than $3 million to help ranchers deter wolves and compensate those who have lost animals in a wolf attack.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
CDFW Releases New Wolf Map
( — The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has released a new map that tracks the movement of collared gray wolves. 'Our main goal was to help support our livestock producers in northeastern California,' said Peter Tira, spokesperson for CDFW. 'Knowledge is power.' The system tracks and collects the approximate location of 14 GPS-collared wolves four times a day, though CDFW said there are dozens of wolves in the area. Amaroq Weiss with the Center for Biological Diversity said this new coexistence tool is helpful for all Californians. Woman pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts in Grand Theft case 'Wolf conflicts are rare in any state with wolves, but both ranchers and wolves will benefit if we can make those conflicts even more rare by giving a heads-up when wolves are in the area,' Weiss said. When viewing the map, not all 14 trackers may appear. CDFW explains this may be due to collars falling off, malfunctions, animals moving beyond the range of active cells, or even crossing state borders. But for ranchers and officials dealing with gray wolves on a daily basis, these maps confirm what they already know. 'The map is a good start- it's got some bugs, but I want to say that Fish and Wildlife is trying to put something out there,' said Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue. Rayno Nel becomes first South African to win World's Strongest Man Sheriff LaRue and Sierra County Sheriff Mike Fisher, who have been at the forefront of the issue, say fewer than a handful of wolves in their counties are currently being tracked. 'If there isn't a GPS reading on a particular ranch, that doesn't mean wolves aren't present—it just means that one of the three collared wolves isn't on that ranch,' Sheriff Fisher told FOX40. 'We've estimated 70-plus wolves in our community,' Sheriff LaRue added. The Sheriffs from Plumas and Lassen counties have joined them in meeting with the California Natural Resources Secretary and the Director of CDFW on Wednesday in Sacramento to discuss wolf management. They said the meeting brought hope. 'We discussed various options today on, you know, hazing, and various plans,' Sheriff Fisher said. 'I felt refreshed a little bit and reassured that we are going to be heading in the right direction,' said Sheriff LaRue. The Sheriffs are scheduled to meet with state officials again next week to discuss next steps. 'What I would like [residents] to know is that their local representatives, both their Board of Supervisors and their elected Sheriffs, are down here in Sacramento meeting with those who have the ability to effect change on the management,' Sheriff Fisher concludes. ' It was a very productive meeting.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
19-05-2025
- CBS News
California county declares state of emergency over gray wolf activity
SHASTA COUNTY – A Northern California county has declared a local state of emergency as residents report more gray wolf incidents. Shasta County supervisors adopted the state of emergency declaration last week. The emergency declaration comes as rural Shasta County residents report more encounters with gray wolves – including attacks on livestock. "These wolves are showing no fear of people and are attacking livestock near family homes. We need better tools and immediate action to keep our rural communities safe," said Corkey Harmon, the Shasta County supervisor who sponsored the resolution, in a statement. Officials say, since late 2024, multiple cattle and other livestock deaths linked to wolves have been confirmed in eastern Shasta County. Supervisors also sent a letter to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife asking for help in protecting the public from wolves. Shasta County residents are being urged to report possible wolf sightings to Fish and Wildlife. Both Modoc and Lassen counties have also adopted similar emergency declarations against wolves in recent days. Wolves are an endangered species in California that, at one point, had disappeared from the state before returning in recent years. Fish and Wildlife has been closely monitoring the state's wolf population, with seven wolf packs having been confirmed.
