Placerville Newswire
  • Crime
  • Culture
No Result
View All Result
Get Started
Placerville NewsWire
  • Crime
  • Culture
No Result
View All Result
Placerville NewsWire
No Result
View All Result

Wolves Return to Northern California: Ranchers Sound Alarm Over Livestock Losses

As wolf packs grow and state funds dry up, ranchers face mounting threats with limited protection and time running out

Cris Alarcon by Cris Alarcon
April 25, 2025
in News
435 14
0
Wolves Return to Northern California: Ranchers Sound Alarm Over Livestock Losses
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterWhatsappReddit

By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. (April 25, 2025) — SISKIYOU COUNTY, Calif. — The resurgence of gray wolves in Northern California has reignited age-old tensions between wildlife conservation efforts and the livelihoods of ranchers. As wolf populations grow, so do concerns over livestock safety and economic impacts in rural communities.​

Joel Torres, a herdsman at Prather Ranch in Siskiyou County, has witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of wolf predation. “They’ve just been tearing into our baby calves, mostly our yearlings,” Torres said. Unlike predators that kill swiftly, wolves often attack from behind, inflicting gruesome injuries that leave cattle in shock and agony. Torres has had to euthanize numerous injured animals, describing the ordeal as a “nightmare” for both the cattle and the ranchers.​

You might also like

Mountain lions in El Dorado County peak at dusk and after dark, local monitoring shows

Mountain lions in El Dorado County peak at dusk and after dark, local monitoring shows

October 20, 2025
Duane Wallace steps back from South Tahoe Chamber as city leadership faces turmoil over mayor’s resignation

Duane Wallace steps back from South Tahoe Chamber as city leadership faces turmoil over mayor’s resignation

October 18, 2025

The return of wolves to California began in 2011 when a wolf from Oregon, known as OR7, crossed into the state. Since then, seven distinct packs have been established, primarily in the northern regions. The Whaleback pack, in particular, has been linked to significant livestock losses at Prather Ranch and neighboring operations.​

A study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, analyzed over 100 wolf scat samples from the Lassen pack between 2022 and 2023. The findings revealed that 72% of the samples contained cattle DNA, indicating a substantial reliance on livestock as a food source

In response to the escalating conflicts, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has implemented non-lethal deterrents, including firing guns into the air, using drones, and deploying range riders to monitor and protect herds. However, ranchers like Torres remain skeptical of these measures’ effectiveness. “The wolves just jump over those fences,” he noted, referring to electric fences with red flags intended to deter the predators.​

To mitigate the financial burden on ranchers, the state launched the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program in 2021, allocating $3 million to reimburse producers for confirmed or probable wolf-related livestock losses. By March 2024, all funds had been disbursed, with 109 grants awarded to producers in areas of known wolf activity, including Siskiyou, Lassen, Plumas, and Tulare counties . An additional $600,000 was appropriated in 2024, focusing solely on direct loss compensation

Despite these efforts, many ranchers feel the compensation falls short, especially considering indirect losses such as decreased cattle weight and increased stress-induced abortions. “Cows don’t usually run 10 miles over four hours in the middle of the night,” said UC Davis researcher Kenneth Tate, highlighting the abnormal behavior caused by wolf presence.​

The growing wolf population has also raised public safety concerns. In Modoc, Lassen, and Sierra counties, officials have reported wolves venturing closer to residential areas, scavenging human trash, and even charging at individuals. These incidents have prompted the CDFW to consider reviewing the gray wolf’s endangered species status, a process that could lead to policy adjustments

Mary Rickert, co-owner of Prather Ranch, advocates for more aggressive measures to protect livestock. “We’d just pick off a few of the bad actors, so the others would go, whoa, and back off,” she suggested.​

As California grapples with balancing ecological restoration and agricultural interests, the debate over wolf management continues to intensify. For ranchers like Torres, the return of these apex predators represents not just a challenge to their livelihood but a profound test of coexistence in the modern West.

Cris Alarcon

Cris Alarcon

Former Member: Executive Board of Directors, Treasurer, Boys & Girl Club of El Dorado County Western Slope. - Former Member: Board of Directors, Treasurer, Food Bank of El Dorado County. - Opening Team Dealer at Red Hawk Casino - Retried EDC Elections Department Inspector. - Youngest Charter Member of the Hangtown Kennel Club. - Political Strategist and Campaign Manager.

Related Stories

Mountain lions in El Dorado County peak at dusk and after dark, local monitoring shows

Mountain lions in El Dorado County peak at dusk and after dark, local monitoring shows

by Cris Alarcon
October 20, 2025

New local monitoring shows mountain-lion detections in El Dorado County cluster at dusk and after dark. Cameras capture a 1...

Duane Wallace steps back from South Tahoe Chamber as city leadership faces turmoil over mayor’s resignation

Duane Wallace steps back from South Tahoe Chamber as city leadership faces turmoil over mayor’s resignation

by Cris Alarcon
October 18, 2025

Duane Wallace has stepped away from day-to-day leadership at the South Tahoe Chamber as the city reels from Mayor Tamara...

Tamara Wallace Retains Placerville Attorney Steven C. Bailey in El Dorado County Investigation

Tamara Wallace Retains Placerville Attorney Steven C. Bailey in El Dorado County Investigation

by Cris Alarcon
October 15, 2025

Former South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace announced today she has retained former El Dorado County judge and defense attorney...

FAIR Plan Seeks 35.8% Average Rate Hike — What El Dorado County Homeowners Need to Know

FAIR Plan Seeks 35.8% Average Rate Hike — What El Dorado County Homeowners Need to Know

by Cris Alarcon
October 14, 2025

The state’s insurer of last resort wants an average 35.8% increase. If you live in El Dorado County, learn how...

Recommended

EDSO Eagle

EDC Arrests and Activity on Nov 16 2024

November 17, 2024
Garage Explosion Rocks Quiet Placerville Neighborhood, Triggers Emergency Response

Garage Explosion Rocks Quiet Placerville Neighborhood, Triggers Emergency Response

April 6, 2025

Popular Story

  • EDSO Eagle

    El Dorado County Sheriff Arrest Log: Drunks, Thieves, and a Fugitive on the Run – Oct. 15, 2025

    709 shares
    Share 284 Tweet 177
  • Feds Charge Two in Alleged Fraud Linked to California’s Homekey Program

    687 shares
    Share 275 Tweet 172
  • El Dorado County Sheriff Arrests & Activity Log: Felonies, DUIs, and Domestic Calls — Oct. 18, 2025

    680 shares
    Share 272 Tweet 170
  • El Dorado County Sheriff’s Blotter: Battery Arrest, Domestic Violence, and a Missing Person — Oct. 17, 2025

    678 shares
    Share 271 Tweet 170
  • El Dorado County Arrest Log: Drunks, Thieves, and Probation Breakers Fill the Jail — Oct. 16, 2025

    645 shares
    Share 258 Tweet 161
  • Buy JNews
  • Support Forum
  • Pre-sale Question
  • Contact Us

© 2023 Placerville Newswire Commentary is produced by the Placerville Newswire, a private service focusing on Placerville Local Area issues. All conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s). You may find us in El Dorado County Placerville, CA 95667

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Landing Page
  • Buy JNews
  • Support Forum
  • Pre-sale Question
  • Contact Us

© 2023 Placerville Newswire Commentary is produced by the Placerville Newswire, a private service focusing on Placerville Local Area issues. All conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s). You may find us in El Dorado County Placerville, CA 95667