Ranches with Wolves

A lot happened in wolf policy this week. Swipe through for this week’s wolf news. ➡️

The Trump administration ordered a new review of federal protections for gray and Mexican wolves, California expanded the tools ranchers can use to haze wolves away from livestock, and pressure continues to build for stronger management options when repeated depredations occur.

Meanwhile, a federal review of Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) payments is bringing attention to taxpayer-funded legal fee awards, and a new agreement in Colorado recognizes the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s authority to manage wolves on its reservation, including lethal removal when federal requirements are met.

Western Justice’s documentary came out today about the impact of wolves in California. Give it a watch.

The Dark Reality of Wolves in California | WOLVES: True Conflict 2 | CALIFORNIA The conflict didn’t end in Washington.After the first episode of ...

A wolf depredation has now been confirmed in Tehama County for the first time.

The depredation was caused by wolves from the Ice Cave Pack near Mineral, a small community in eastern Tehama County near Lassen Volcanic National Park.

While this is the first confirmed wolf depredation in Tehama County, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the first one that has occurred.

The Ice Cave Pack was confirmed in fall 2024 when U.S. Forest Service cameras documented two adults and two pups south of the park. Genetic testing identified CA059 and CA051 as the pack’s 2024 breeding pair.

In the fall of 2025, dna identified CA156 as the new breeding male after CA051 left the pack, and six pups were documented that year. Female pup CA157 was captured and collared in August 2025, the collar later stopped functioning. Another adult, CA163 from the Whaleback Pack has also been detected with the Ice Cave Pack.

Wolves west of I5.

We know there are more Wolves in California than we know about. This Black Wolf was captured on camera by a friend of mine West of I-5 in the B zone. There are no documented Wolves by the department that I’m aware of West of I-5 but this proves they are there.

NEW PETITION SEEKS TO DELIST THE GRAY WOLF

A coalition of industry groups and nonprofits filed a petition Friday asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the gray wolf from the federal list of threatened and endangered species.

The petition, led by American Stewards of Liberty, argues that wolves currently protected in parts of the lower 48 are part of a much larger gray wolf population that extends through Canada, Alaska, Asia and Europe.

Because of that, the groups argue these wolves do not qualify as a separate species, subspecies, or “distinct population segment” under the Endangered Species Act and should be removed from federal protection.

If successful the petition could be another step toward returning wolf management to the states.

This is one to watch, especially for livestock producers and rural communities dealing with growing wolf populations.

Read more:
https://www.eenews.net/articles/property-rights-group-petitions-fws-to-strip-protections-for-gray-wolves/

CDFW’s latest report shows the continued impact of wolves on California ranchers.

107 livestock depredation investigations have been conducted. 45 livestock have been confirmed/probably killed or injured by wolves.

The Whaleback pack accounts for nearly 47% of all livestock currently classified as confirmed/probable wolf depredations statewide.

🔗Depredations: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=247120&inline

🔗Known wolves: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=247119&inline

An update on legislation in Washington DC:
Senate Bill 1306 requires the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reissue the 2020 gray wolf delisting rule within 60 days of the bill becoming law. The bill also prevents judicial review of the reissued rule, so federal courts could not overturn or challenge the reissued delisting.

This bill is a response to a federal judge’s ruling to reverse the 2020 delisting rule, returning gray wolves in much of the lower 48 states to federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. The bill was introduced by Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin senator. Wisconsin has a wolf population of around 1,200.

What do you think? Should gray wolf management return to the states?

🔗 https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1306/text