California Resorts to Lethal Measures to Protect Cattle from Surging Wolf Attacks

In the summer of 2025, California wildlife officials launched an unprecedented effort to scare off the growing number of wolves in the state's remote Sierra Valley. The state-run strike team used a variety of non-lethal tactics, including bean bag shots, all-terrain vehicles, drones, and blasting AC/DC music, to try and keep the endangered predators away from the region's sprawling cattle ranches.

However, despite the $1.4 million campaign and over 18,000 staff hours logged, the hazing efforts proved largely unsuccessful. Wolves from the Beyem Seyo pack continued to attack and kill cattle, with ranchers reporting over 90 confirmed or probable livestock kills this year - nearly double the number across the entire state in 2024.

Faced with the escalating conflict, California's Department of Fish and Wildlife made a sudden shift in policy, breaking from its strict adherence to non-lethal wolf deterrence. The state has now killed four wolves in the Sierra Valley and plans to capture and relocate at least two more. Officials say this drastic action was necessary to protect the cattle from the wolves' growing taste for beef.

The decision has drawn criticism from both conservation groups and some ranchers, who argue that the killings could have been avoided with better deterrence measures or more proactive management. However, other ranchers in the region welcome the state's actions, saying the wolf attacks have caused significant financial losses and stress.

As California grapples with the return of the apex predator, the state's wildlife managers must now navigate the delicate balance between protecting the endangered wolves and the livelihoods of the region's cattle producers. The outcome of this conflict will have far-reaching implications for the future of wolf recovery in the state.