California euthanizes 4 gray wolves as ranchers bemoan surge in cattle kills
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Conservationists were thrilled when the gray wolf returned to California after the apex predators were hunted to near extinction a century ago.But it turns out the Golden State’s regrowing wolf packs are not merely content to feed on their traditional prey of elk and deer.Some also have a voracious appetite for cattle.In response to an “unprecedented” surge in cattle kills across the Sierra Valley — which has been widely bemoaned by the region’s ranchers — officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recently euthanized four gray wolves from the Beyem Seyo pack.From March 28 to Sept.
10, these four wolves were responsible for 70 total livestock losses, representing 63% of wolf-caused livestock losses reported across the state during that time period, according to Fish and Wildlife.California California wolves are on the comeback.
And no matter how hard wildlife officials try to direct them toward their natural prey, the wolves seem to find the domesticated cattle wandering through open pastures a lot more appealing.“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,” department Director Charlton Bonham said in a statement.“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.”The targeted wolves included a breeding male and female pair, a solo male and a solo female.
During the operation, officials also accidentally killed a fifth wolf — a juvenile male that was mistaken for the breeding male due to its similar color and size.A January 2022 video of a group of wolves in Northern California.(Courtesy of Patrick Griffin)The decision to euthanize the wolves followed a months-long effort to ...