California: Three Cattle-Killing Wolves Euthanized
After enduring over six months of persistent wolf attacks on their cattle herds, ranchers in Sierra Valley, California, were relieved to learn that three problematic wolves had been euthanized. Paul Roen, a Sierra County Supervisor and rancher, confirmed the news from wildlife officials.
This action marks a significant moment, as reported by the Sacramento Bee, being the first instance in more than a century where California officials have killed wolves, which are protected under both state and federal endangered species laws.
According to a press statement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, a total of four wolves were removed, with one being euthanized accidentally. The affected wolves included a breeding pair (WHA08M and LAS23F), a female (BEY01F), and a male (BEY12M). During the operation, a juvenile wolf (BEY12M) was mistakenly identified as the breeding male (WHA08M) due to their similar color and size, leading to an unintended lethal removal. Additionally, remains of two other juveniles from the pack (BEY15M and BEY17M) were found, determined to have died before the operation commenced.
The gray wolf is listed as federally endangered, except in specific regions such as the Northern Rocky Mountain area, parts of Oregon, Washington, north-central Utah, and Minnesota, where it is classified as threatened. Due to these protections, killing a wolf in California is illegal, even if it is caught attacking livestock. The removal of these three wolves was a unique measure, as Roen believes it was necessary to safeguard the local community from wolves that were increasingly bold and no longer behaving like wild animals.
In the fall of 2024, a pair of wolves followed cattle from the mountains of Plumas County into the Sierra Valley. By April 2025, after establishing a den close to Roen’s home, they began to kill cattle extensively. Roen reported that from April to September, federal wildlife officials confirmed over 90 cattle as wolf kills, though he suspects the actual number is higher, as many carcasses were nearly fully consumed. State regulations require specific evidence, such as “bite marks” or “hemorrhaging,” to confirm wolf kills, which often isn’t available when only blood and a few bones remain at a kill site.
While funding is available to reimburse ranchers for their losses, Roen noted that only one rancher has received compensation for a single animal thus far. Ranchers must complete paperwork to qualify for reimbursement and provide documentation of the kill along with evidence like current market value to support their claims.
Roen himself has lost over 50 cattle and has submitted claims for reimbursement, but he has yet to receive any response from the state. At one point, he was informed that some claims had remained unreviewed for at least a month and a half. Although the state has hired a new employee to process claims, Roen doubts that this individual has the authority to approve them.
He is advocating for the establishment of a review panel to expedite the claims process, emphasizing the importance of addressing claims promptly to ensure that details remain fresh in the minds of those who reported them. He has examined over 100 cattle kill sites in recent months.
Roen also highlighted additional costs ranchers face; for instance, his cows typically achieve a 98 percent conception rate, but this year, their heifers were down about 30 percent. Furthermore, he and other ranchers hear their cows bellowing at the wolves each night, indicating significant stress.
The emotional toll on ranchers has been substantial. Roen mentioned that many ranchers took turns watching over their herds at night. One neighbor, a third-grade teacher, would keep watch until midnight, after which her husband would take over to help deter the wolves.
“It was unbelievable, the mental strain we went through this summer. It’s labor-intensive and mentally draining,” he said.
Based on radio collar data, wildlife officials and ranchers determined that the three euthanized wolves were responsible for 98 percent of the confirmed cattle kills. Roen noted that the wolves had become so fearless that they no longer responded to hazing methods. He believes state wildlife officials recognized that once the cattle were removed from the valley for winter, the wolves would continue their predation, potentially encroaching into residential areas and creating more serious issues.
After sharing his community’s experiences with various government officials, Roen is now dedicated to assisting others facing wolf-related challenges on their ranches. “Everyone’s wanting to know how we did this and how we can help them,” he stated. “We are creating an after-action report and a roadmap of ‘how we got here’ so others can replicate our documentation process.”
Roen commended officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for acknowledging the severity of the wolf issue in Sierra Valley and taking swift action. Brian Nesvik, the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with Paul Souza, the USFWS director for the Pacific Southwest Region, and Jeff Flores from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, played crucial roles in advocating for the wolves’ removal. Both Souza and Flores are scheduled to attend a California Cattlemen’s meeting in Reno on December 4 to discuss these matters with producers.
“All of these people at the federal level were very concerned. They understand what’s going on. We just had to give them the facts so they could help us with a solution,” Roen concluded.
Source: https://www.tsln.com/news/cattle-killing-wolves-euthanized-in-california/
