Siskiyou County Supports CDFW’s Efforts to Address Gray Wolf Impacts

YREKA, CA – The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors welcomes the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) new pilot initiative aimed at reducing gray wolf attacks on livestock as a step toward addressing the ongoing challenges gray wolves pose to rural communities and livestock producers in northern California.

On June 9, 2025, CDFW announced the launch of a dedicated strike team, designed to provide on-the-ground assistance to ranchers experiencing wolf-related livestock losses. The strike team includes staff experienced in livestock management, depredation investigation, and deterrent tools. Their role is to offer direct technical support to livestock producers in high-impact areas by deploying non-lethal deterrents tailored to individual operations and assisting with permitting and compensation processes.

The Board of Supervisors supports CDFW’s creation of this focused team and recognizes it as an acknowledgment of the seriousness of this issue. However, County leaders also stress that this remains a deeply concerning situation for the agricultural community in Siskiyou County and across the broader region.

“This is a step in the right direction and a sign that our concerns are being heard,” said Nancy Ogren, Chair of the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors. “There is mounting alarm over the significant and ongoing impacts that the presence of gray wolves is having on our local agricultural community, particularly regarding livestock predation. The presence of wolves near and among livestock not only leads to direct kills but also causes extreme stress on the animals and is severely affecting the economic viability of our ranchers, as well as Siskiyou County’s overall economic sustainability. We are encouraged that CDFW has created a more focused and dedicated effort to mitigate the consequences of the wolf population, particularly in Siskiyou County, in order to protect our agricultural resources and livelihoods.”

The Board remains committed to monitoring the implementation of this pilot effort and will continue to advocate for meaningful, long-term solutions that reflect the needs and realities of working ranchers and rural counties.

For more information, please visit the CDFW pilot program.

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