[California County News]
In 2015, the grey wolf made its official return to California after a near 100-year hiatus. It was an exciting moment for wildlife conservationists, but it left local ranchers worried about the potential threat to livestock. Fast forward seven years, and we’re now seeing those concerns come to pass, according to an in-depth report from Ashley Harrell at SF Gate.
There were at least 15 wolf attacks on domesticated animals last year, up from 9 in both 2019 and 2020. A single wolf with an injured paw dubbed OR-103 is believed to be responsible for six of them. While wolves generally prefer wild prey, OR-103’s injury has made it hard to hunt. Instead, he’s going after calves in Siskiyou.
Patrick Griffin is Siskiyou County’s “wolf liaison” and he’s been tasked with investigating these attacks and reassuring ranchers. He’s frustrated by the situation. Strong wildlife protections in California leave him with few options to assuage ranchers after a wolf kills one of their cows.
A local program is now in place to compensate ranchers who lose livestock to predators like OR-103 in Siskiyou. But ranchers want more done, and Griffin worries they’re likely to start taking matters into their own hands.
That’s probably already happening. Two wolves were found slain in 2018 and again in 2020. Eight California wolves have disappeared over the past few years, including an entire pack that vanished after they were caught feeding on a calf.
Local ranchers who spoke to SF Gate said they don’t support indiscriminate killing of wolves, but they do wish there was an option to remove or eliminate those that have proven problematic. California’s strong wolf protection laws are unique among the 50 states and could become an issue as the population increases.
Ranchers aren’t just worried about their livelihood. They get emotional speaking of the dead calves they’ve found. They worry about their dogs. They’re angry.
You feel helpless,” Janna Gliatto, a manager at Table Rock, told SF Gate. “Our hands are tied. We’ve been invaded.