California ranchers demand right to blast killer wolves with pepper balls

California ranchers sick of watching blood-thirsty wolves ravage their herds are demanding the right to blast the predators with pepper balls as Republican lawmakers are fighting what they call overly restrictive state laws on protected species.Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick (R-Alturas) rallied with law enforcement and ranchers Wednesday at the Capitol in support of a package of bills that would allow livestock producers and others authorized by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to use pepper-ball-style projectiles to haze gray wolves, mountain lives and other animals threatening livestock and human life.“The intent is not crowd control tear gas, but rather something similar to pepper spray for bears — something a little smelly that keeps the wolf away and may leave a bruise,” Hadwick told The California Post.“Pepperball hazing gives ranchers and wildlife managers another way to protect livestock, reduce wolf-livestock conflict, and prevent situations where wolves become so conditioned to eating cattle that lethal removal becomes the only option left on the table.”James Gallagher, a former Republican assemblymember from Yuba City who co-authored the package of bills before moving on to Congress, said the wolf attacks have been gruesome for ranchers across Northern California.“It’s been a terrible issue for a lot of ranchers,” Gallagher told The Post. “Killing the cow is probably the most merciful thing that happens in many cases.These cattle are maimed and have terrible wounds that are walking around with open wounds, and they have to be put down.”Gallagher accused Gov.

Gavin Newsom of ignoring the issue as rural Californians bear the cost.“Gavin’s running for president,” Gallagher said.“He’s not even addressing housing or homelessness or any of the major issues in California — let alone a wolf problem that’s affecting mostly rural California.”California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, ...