CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

Feb. 2, 2026

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Meghan Hertel Appointed Director of CDFW
Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he has appointed Meghan Hertel Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Hertel, who most recently served as Deputy Secretary for Habitat and Biodiversity at the California Natural Resources Agency, takes over leadership at the Department from Charleton “Chuck” Bonham, who announced his departure from the agency in early December after 14 years at its helm.

As Deputy Secretary for Habitat and Biodiversity at CNRA, Hertel spent the last two years working in part to further the state’s “30×30” initiative, an effort to durably conserve 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. In that role, Hertel worked closely with CCA, one of approximately two dozen organizations represented on the 30×30 Partnership Coordinating Committee. From 2010 to 2022, Hertel held various positions at Audubon California, where she likewise collaborated with CCA staff.

At CNRA, Hertel’s job frequently entailed monitoring and engaging on wildlife policy of particular concern to CCA; she often participated or sat in on wolf stakeholder meetings, for instance. She also was a guest on CCA’s podcast Sorting Pen last September.

CCA looks forward to working with Director Hertel as we continue to advocate for CCA policy before the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Fish & Game Commission Considers CESA Listing for Central Coast and Southern California Mountain Lions
The California Fish and Game Commission will meet next week to consider whether to list a distinct population segment (DPS) of mountain lions throughout the Central Coast and Southern California as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act, as recommended in a December status evaluation of the animals conducted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In 2019, the Mountain Lion Foundation and Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition seeking CESA listing for an “evolutionarily significant unit” of mountain lions within the Central Coast and Southern California (the DPS identified by CDFW differs slightly from the ESU proposed by the petitioners). CCA strenuously opposed the petition, arguing that CESA listing would be incompatible with Proposition 117, a 1990 voter initiative which established mountain lions as a “specially protected mammal species” under sate law. Specifically, CCA noted that CESA prohibition against “take” is incompatible with CDFW’s explicit duty under Proposition 117 to issue take permits for mountain lions which take livestock and pets.

Despite CCA’s objections, the Commission found in April 2020 that listing may be warranted after then-CDFW-Director Chuck Bonham argued that the Department could “reconcile and harmonize” CESA and Proposition 117.

More than five years later, the Commission is now poised to formally add Central Coast and Southern California mountain lions to the list of threatened species under CESA. CCA last week filed formal comments opposing the proposed listing, and CCA staff will be on hand in Sacramento on February 12 to voice the Association’s opposition.

For more information – including how you can participate virtually in the hearing to voice your opposition to listing – see the Commission’s meeting agenda.

Former CCA President Kester Discusses how Ranching Aids California’s Biodiversity Goals
On January 22, Former CCA President Kevin Kester joined the California Natural Resources Agency for a webinar titled “Show Up and Count for 30×30.” Kester was joined by Jackie Flatt, Conservation Director for the California Rangeland Trust, to discuss the role that rangeland conservation easements play in achieving California’s effort to conserve 30% of the state’s lands by 2030. Kester and Flatt noted that conservation easements safeguard essential habitat, agricultural production and producer viability. Kester also stressed the conservation value of all ranching in California, noting that ranchers “are doing their best to keep the landscapes intact and biodiversity intact because what’s good for our landscapes and habitats is also good for ranching and keeping…our family businesses going on to future generations.” To view the webinar, click here.

Newsom Proclaims Special Election for 1^st Congressional District
Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01) – a farmer and staunch advocate for farmers and ranchers throughout his Northern California district – passed away last month at the age of 65. On January 16, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed that a special election will be held Tuesday, August 4 – the latest date available under California law. The Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee panned Newsom’s move as “a disservice to the people of California’ First District” which denies them “a voice in Congress…for purely political reasons.” For additional details, see the January 20 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

Upcoming CCA Events

CCA in the News

Living with wolves, bears and mountain lions: The issue reaches the Capitol The Los Angeles Times “The wildlife advocates support funding wolf efforts, but believe ranchers should be compensated only if they’ve taken steps to ward off the predators. Asked his thoughts on it at the hearing, Kirk Wilbur, vice president of government affairs for the California Cattlemen’s Assn., a trade group, called it ‘a complicated question.’ ‘Ranchers should be doing something in the realm of nonlethal deterrence, and they are, but we have to be careful to make sure that our nonlethal solutions are not overly prescriptive,’ he said.” To continue reading, click here.

Concerns about wolves and other predators prompt hearing at California Capitol The Sacramento Bee “‘This is really an opportunity for the committee to get perspectives from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, from researchers and from folks on the ground about human-wildlife conflict,’ said Kirk Wilbur, vice president for government relations at the California Cattleman’s Association.” To continue reading, click here.

Wolves and other predators present ‘a crisis,’ state environment chief says The Sacramento Bee “Rick Roberti, a Sierra Valley rancher who is president of the California Cattleman’s association, said the talk of coexistence without the option of taking assertive action to control wolves and other predators was difficult to hear after living through the strains and frustrations of the Valley’s summer of wolves.” To continue reading, click here.

One Calif. wolf pack caused $2.6m in costs over seven months Western Farm Press “The four wolves euthanized last fall were the state’s first, and the California Cattlemen’s Association succeeded in securing $2 million in renewed state funding to compensate ranchers harmed by gray wolves. ‘We are currently in negotiations for enhanced deterrence and real-time data-sharing protocols,’ Roen said. ‘We’re in a whole laundry list of arguments based on the outcomes of last summer.’” To continue reading, click here.

Rick Roberti Warns California’s Wolf Crisis Is Devastating the Cattle Industry AgNet West “The January 30 edition of the AgNet News Hour delivered one of the most graphic and hard-hitting conversations yet on California’s escalating wolf crisis, as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill continued their in-depth interview with Rick Roberti, President of the California Cattlemen’s Association. This first installment of a three-part series pulled back the curtain on what ranchers are facing in real time — and why many believe state policy has gone dangerously off the rails.” To continue reading, click here.

Rick Roberti California Cattle Threats: Wolves, Water, and Workforce AgNet West “The February 2 edition of the AgNet News Hour continued the powerful, multi-part conversation with Rick Roberti, President of the California Cattlemen’s Association, as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill dug deeper into what ranchers are really facing on the ground. From unchecked predators to workforce uncertainty and food security, Roberti warned that California is drifting dangerously far from common sense — and the consequences are already showing.” To continue reading, click here.

Industry News

Deadline nears for closure of Point Reyes National Seashore ranches and dairies under settlement The Press Democrat “A dozen ranches and dairies in the Point Reyes National Seashore have about two months left to close down under an agreement with The Nature Conservancy.” To continue reading, click here.