CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

November 18, 2024

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CDFW Issues Gray Wolf Updates
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife on Wednesday issued a “Wolf News Update,” including an updated map detailing areas of known wolf activity and confirmation of five additional livestock depredations by wolves in September and October.

The Department’s Quarterly Wolf News Update for the first time fails to report on total wolf population numbers, citing the 2016 Conservation Plan for Gray Wolves’ focus on “year-end minimum count[s] and assessment[s] of breeding pair numbers.” Instead, CDFW will now “only report on updates to reproduction and mortality” for reproductive packs. Based on prior wolf population figures released by the Department and the quarterly report’s assertion that “no population changes were recorded” in previously-identified packs, though, CCA estimates a minimum population of 65 resident wolves in the state (with at least four additional wolves identified in “areas of wolf activity” in eastern Shasta County and eastern Tehama County).

CDFW’s update reveals significant new information about the number of wolf packs within the state. The Quarterly Wolf News Update for the first time reports the presence of the new Diamond Pack, consisting of at least two wolves in eastern Plumas and southern Lassen counties (the Department has confirmed to CCA staff that an August 2 livestock depredation in eastern Plumas County is now attributed to the Diamond Pack). The Department’s mapping of “approximate area[s] of gray wolf activity,” which is more up-to-date than the quarterly report, also identifies an unnamed pack where the counties of Shasta, Tehama, Lassen and Plumas converge. Finally, CDFW reports that the Beckwourth Pack has not been detected since October of 2023, and if not detected this quarter will no longer be deemed an active, resident wolf pack.

Based on this information, it appears that California currently has eight known wolf packs. As a reminder, the Conservation Plan for Gray Wolves in California contemplates CDFW “conduct[ing] a status review of the species to evaluate whether state listing as endangered remains warranted” once California achieves eight breeding pairs for two successive years; while the state currently has eight packs, CDFW presently only identifies five as “reproductive packs.”

Only six wolves in the state are currently collared: one each in the Beyem Seyo, Diamond and Whaleback packs and three in the Yowlumni Pack.

Lastly, CDFW has released five new “livestock loss determination” reports from September and October confirming five additional livestock depredations by gray wolves, four by the Beyem Seyo Pack in eastern Plumas County and one by the Yowlumni Pack on Tule River Tribe reservation land in Tulare County. In 2024 alone, CDFW has confirmed 44 livestock lost to wolf depredations across 38 attacks.

Curtailments Suspended in Scott and Shasta River Watersheds
The State Water Resources Control Board announced on Wednesday that it has suspended all curtailments in the Scott River Watershed. Despite the suspension of curtailments, the notice clarifies that “that prohibition on inefficient surface water diversions for livestock is still in effect,” and those wishing to “inefficiently divert[ ] surface water for livestock,” as defined in the Emergency Regulation, must continue to meet the requirements for livestock diversion detailed in Section 875.7 of the Emergency Regulation.

As reported in California Cattleman Weekly, the SWRCB previously suspended all curtailments in the Shasta River watershed “until further notice.” Similar provisions related to inefficient diversion for livestock watering remain in effect in the Shasta River watershed.

For additional information, see the SWRCB’s Scott River and Shasta River Watersheds Emergency Regulation webpage.

108th Annual CCA and CCW Convention is Two Weeks Away
The 108th Annual California Cattlemen’s Association and California CattleWomen’s Convention and California Cattle Industry Tradeshow is two weeks away! Happening Dec. 4 – Dec. 6 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nev., the convention will provide opportunities to hear from industry speakers and much more. To register and view a tentative schedule, click here.

Upcoming CCA Events

Upcoming Industry Events

Industry News

California Agricultural Neighbors report highlights next steps for building proactive food safety culture in Salinas Valley CDFA Planting Seeds Blog“CDFA and the Monterey County Farm Bureau are announcing the joint release of the report ‘California Agricultural Neighbors: Building a Proactive Food Safety Culture.’” To continue reading, click here.