CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

Feb. 17, 2026

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Fish & Game Commission Lists Central Coast and Southern California Populations of Mountain Lions as Threatened Under CESA
The California Fish and Game Commission on Thursday voted unanimously to list a distinct population segment of mountain lions in the Central Coast and Southern California as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act. Mountain lions in that range had been deemed a candidate species under CESA in April of 2020, a designation which has afforded them full CESA protections for the past six years.

CCA has strongly opposed additional protections for Central Coast and Southern California mountain lions since 2019, when the Center for Biological Diversity and the Mountain Lion Foundation petitioned to list them under CESA. CCA submitted detailed comments opposing CESA listing ahead of last week’s hearing (see Exhibit 8, here) and appeared at Thursday’s hearing to advocate against further protections for mountain lions.

While CCA is disappointed by the Commission’s listing decision, it is not clear that listing will impact ranchers’ ability to obtain depredation take permits for the animals, as Proposition 117 – passed by California voters in 1990 – specifically requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue take permits for mountain lions found to stalk, injure or kill livestock or pets. At Thursday’s hearing, Department legal staff noted that the agency has been issuing take permits throughout candidacy, relying in part on Fish & Game Code Section 2081(a), a CESA provision which allows take permits to issue for “management purposes.” Department staff noted that take permits will continue to issue as required by Proposition 117 now that the species has been formally listed as threatened.

That said, CCA also takes issue with the manner in which CDFW has elected to issue depredation take permits for mountain lions in the Central Coast and Southern California under a “three strike” policy that often frustrates the intent of Proposition 117 by making it difficult, if not impossible, for ranchers to lethally remove problem mountain lions. CCA will continue working with the Department and Commission to seek amendments to that restrictive policy.

For more information, see the March edition of the California Cattleman magazine.

CDFW Collars Five Gray Wolves; One Wolf Dies in the Effort
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced that it collared five gray wolves last month during operations in Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou and Tehama counties. While this increases the number of collared wolves within the state to 13, at least six of the state’s wolf packs still do not have any wolves fitted with active GPS collars. According to the Department, one gray wolf – a breeding female from the Harvey Pack – died during the agency’s helicopter-assisted capture-and-collar efforts. For additional information, see last week’s edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

Meghan Hertel Begins as New Director of CDFW
Meghan Hertel formally takes the reins as Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife today after Governor Gavin Newsom announced her appointment to the position late last month. Hertel, who most recently served as Deputy Secretary for Habitat and Biodiversity at the California Natural Resources Agency, takes over from Charleton “Chuck” Bonham, who announced his departure from the agency in early December after 14 years at its helm. For more information, see the February 2 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

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CCA in the News

California wildlife officials give mountain lions new habitat protections CBS News Los Angeles “‘My concern is that additional protections for mountain lions might negatively impact farmers and ranchers whose livestock come into contact,’ said Kirk Wilbur, a representative from the California Cattlemen’s Association. Wilbur said his organization is concerned about the big cats preying on their herds. The state said the new classification doesn’t prevent them from intervening in rare conflicts with people or livestock.” To continue reading, click here.

A Gray Wolf’s Visit to Los Angeles County Is a First in Nearly a Century The New York Times “Their recovery has largely been heralded as an environmental success story. At the same time, ranchers, citing recent attacks, say more needs to be done to manage the wolves. Some packs have developed particularly bad reputations for going after livestock. ‘There are good wolves and there are bad wolves,’ said Rick Roberti, a rancher and the president of the California Cattlemen’s Association. Mr. Roberti said that in cases where wolves have largely left cattle alone, there was no reason to remove them. But in some communities, he said, spates of attacks left ranchers feeling desperate. ‘It’s hard for everybody,’ he said.” To continue reading, click here.

Wolf Attacks in the North State CapRadio “The Gray Wolf went locally extinct in California in the 1920s, but since 2011 the predator has slowly been recolonizing its native habitats in the Golden State. But their return has led to an increase in conflicts with ranchers, with one pack — the Beyem Seyo — confirmed to have killed at least 90 livestock animals in just seven months before being euthanized, at a total cost of more than $2 million. Tina Saitone, UC Davis Professor of Extension in Livestock and Rangeland Economics talks about. Also Rick Roberti, President of the California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and a Sierra Valley rancher talks about his experiences working around wolves, and why the CCA is asking lawmakers for more funding for the state’s Wolf Program.” To listen to the radio segment, click here.

California’s dry farmland is ideal for solar. Big Ag stands in the way | Opinion The Sacramento Bee “That’s not good enough for opponents of the bill. In a July 2025 letter co-written with California Cattlemen’s Association, the Farm Bureau asks for proof that Williamson Act land cannot sustain any commercially viable crop. It points to agave — primarily grown for liquor and sweeteners — as a plant that requires very little water.” To continue reading, click here.

Research Fund Drives Vaccine Breakthroughs for Cattlemen Morning Ag Clips “The Livestock Memorial Research Fund, an arm of the California Cattlemen’s Association, is on a roll. Since its establishment in the 1980s, members of the livestock community have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote scientific and educational projects to benefit the industry, while also providing scholarships for graduate students in ag-related fields.” To continue reading, click here.

Industry News

USDA Announces Completion of Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility in Texas U.S. Department of Agriculture “Today at Moore Air Base, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Governor of Texas Greg Abbott celebrated a significant achievement in the fight against New World Screwworm (NWS) with the completion of a U.S.-based sterile fly dispersal facility in Edinburg, Texas. This facility expands USDA’s ability to disperse sterile flies along the border and into the United States, if necessary.” To continue reading, click here.

NCBA Praises U.S.–Taiwan Trade Deal Expanding Duty‑Free Access for American Beef Tri-State Livestock News “Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the announcement that U.S. beef exports will gain duty-free access to Taiwan under a new trade agreement. The agreement removes both tariff and non-tariff barriers, strengthening one of the most important and fastest growing markets for U.S. beef.” To continue reading, click here.