CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

April 27, 2026

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CDFW Shares Wolf Program Updates, Identifies Three New Packs
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife last week released several reports related to the state’s gray wolf population. The agency’s Quarterly Wolf News report reveals that the state currently has 12 known wolf packs, including three which have been recently recognized based on six months of consistent presence in their respective regions. The three newly named packs are the Interstate Pack in northern Modoc County; the Whitehorse Pack in western Modoc and eastern Siskiyou counties; and the Long Valley Pack, which ranges throughout eastern Sierra, eastern Plumas and south Lassen counties. For more information on these packs, see the March 2026 edition of the Department’s “Known Wolves” document.

The Department has also released an updated map of wolf pack territories, including an additional “area of wolf activity” in central Sierra county where multiple wolves have been detected in recent month.

Finally, the Department has posted an update to its 2026 Wolf-Livestock Depredation Report which summarizes recent livestock depredation investigation results. According to the report, there have been five confirmed wolf depredations of livestock and five probable depredations since losses were last reported through February 20. In total, there were 26 confirmed or probable depredations in the first three months of the year.

Take Action: Tell the U.S. Senate to Pass the Pet and Livestock Protection Act
CCA partner the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has launched a call-to-action campaign in support of H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, which would delist gray wolves from the federal Endangered Species Act throughout the lower 48 states and ensure that federal courts cannot upend the delisting. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives late last year with bipartisan support and is currently awaiting action from the Senate before it can advance to President Donald Trump’s desk. NCBA has released a simple online tool to help ranchers communicate their support for the Pet and Livestock Protection Act to their senators. For more information and to lend your name to the effort, click here.

Permittees Encouraged to Attend PLC Grazing Roundtable May 20 in Susanville
The Public Lands Council invites grazing permittees to a roundtable on May 20 in Susanville to discuss federal lands grazing issues. Interested permittees can RSVP for the event here. The address of the meeting and additional details will be shared with respondents ahead of the roundtable. Southern California permittees are welcome to join the May 12 roundtable in Queen Creek, Arizona (RSVP here for that event). Permittees unable to attend either roundtable will have an opportunity to participate in a virtual roundtable at a later date, though in-person participation is heavily encouraged. For additional details, see the April 13 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

CDFW Announces Progress on Phase 2 Wolf Management Efforts, Including Enhanced Hazing
Earlier this month, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced progress toward the agency’s stated goal of issuing “permits allowing for more aggressive…hazing” of gray wolves. According to CDFW, the agency is “Working with county sheriffs on options to authorize their use of less-than-lethal hazing tools like pepper balls to help protect livestock and drive wolves to natural food options.” Additionally, CDFW says it is “Partnering with county representatives to improve access to collared wolf data” and is “Exploring options for county-based liaison positions to strengthen communications and support for ranchers,” among other efforts. For additional details, see the Department’s Facebook post or the April 13 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

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CCA in the News

Wildlife coexistence bill advances amid rural concerns over wolves, livestock losses The Trinity Journal “Kirk Wilbur of the Cattlemen’s Association said ranchers are concerned about ensuring funds remain available to cover direct livestock losses, especially if a portion of funding is reserved for prevention efforts. ‘We are broadly supportive of the programs,’ Wilbur said. ‘We are not quite there yet on elements of the wolf livestock coexistence and compensation program.’ Opponents also raised concerns about whether nonlethal deterrence requirements would be practical in all situations, particularly in remote or rugged terrain.” To continue reading, click here.

Industry News

California Wildlife Director Engages Communities to Balance Gray Wolf Recovery and Rural Support Sierra Daily News “The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that Director Meghan Hertel recently spent several days in Northern California meeting with local officials, sheriffs, ranchers and community groups to hear directly about the impacts of gray wolves and the realities facing rural California.” To continue reading, click here.

NCBA Members Bring Cattle Industry Priorities to Washington During Legislative Conference National Cattlemen’s Beef Association “The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), and its nationwide network of state affiliates, concluded its 2026 Legislative Conference this week, bringing together cattle producers from across the country to advocate for policy solutions that strengthen America’s cattle industry and rural communities. Throughout the conference, producers met with federal officials and engaged directly with policymakers on Capitol Hill to ensure the voice of cattle producers is heard in Washington.” To continue reading, click here.

Guest Opinion: When wildlife recovery ignores rural reality Western Livestock Journal “I make my living on the land. Like generations of ranchers before, me and my family raise cattle and sheep not as an abstract “industry,” but as a way of life rooted in rural communities across Oregon and the West. That is why I believe we need to have an honest conversation about gray wolves—about what happens when a species has recovered, yet policies fail to catch up with that reality.” To continue reading, click here.