SACRAMENTO, CA (July 1, 2026) – Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick (R-Alturas) held a press conference to share updates on her wolf legislative package and funding request.
The press conference was attended by ranchers, law enforcement and community members, who shared their experiences with the wolf crisis. Speakers included the following:
Sheriff Fisher of Sierra County, Sheriff LaRue of Siskiyou County, Shirl Woodson a rancher from Siskiyou County and Senator Grove who represents Senate District 12. Speakers shared their stories about the direct impacts wolves are having on livestock and public safety in rural California.
Assemblymember Hadwick spoke about bill in her legislative package which provide ranchers and farmers more tools to safely and successfully coexist with wildlife while protecting their livelihoods. The bills include AB 1673 and AB 1722, two bills focused on addressing growing concerns from agricultural communities across Assembly District 1.
“The wolf crisis is no longer a future concern—it’s happening right now in communities across my district,” said Assemblywoman Hadwick. “Ranchers are experiencing real losses, real costs, and real impacts. This legislation is about giving them the tools, resources, and support they need to continue feeding California and keeping their operations viable.”
AB 1673-Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Funding was recently amended to include updated language allowing livestock producers to use pepper-ball deterrents to haze wolves and protect their animals and property. The bill seeks to give ranchers practical, nonlethal tools to respond to wildlife threats and reduce conflicts between livestock and predators. Unfortunately AB 1673 was killed in Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee due to opposition.
AB 1722- Self-Defense Protection protects Californians from penalties under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) when acting in legitimate self-defense or protecting others from immediate harm. The bill clarifies current law and does not apply to federally protected species, including gray wolves.
Funding Ask Additional funding for the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Fund is critical for ranchers in Assembly District 1. As wolf populations grow, so do livestock losses, and ranching families need timely reimbursement when their animals are killed or injured. This funding helps ensure ranchers are not left carrying the financial burden alone.
Assemblywoman Hadwick is also requesting additional funding for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to provide more staff and resources to respond to the growing wolf crisis. Learn more about her request by reading her budget letter here.
Together, these investments will help support ranchers and farmers across the district and provide practical tools to address the increasing impacts of wolves on rural communities.
Assemblywoman Hadwick remains committed to protecting California’s agricultural communities and ensuring ranchers have the support they need to continue their way of life.
If you would like to watch the press conference, you may do so by clicking this link: https://youtu.be/k3VgAzVnCvU.
