The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has released new data on gray wolf depredations in the state, covering July, August, and September of 2024. A total of twelve new depredation determinations were posted to the CDFW Gray Wolf webpage, with the incidents spanning across several counties, including Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou, and Tulare.
Among the findings, the reports confirm that wolves were responsible for livestock depredations in seven cases. Notably, Lassen County experienced three separate wolf attacks in September, with confirmed depredations on September 2, 17, and 18. Siskiyou County also saw a high number of confirmed wolf depredations, with four incidents reported between August 22 and September 4.
The report includes one incident in Tulare County on September 6, where a depredation was deemed “probable,” and two other cases—one in Siskiyou on August 26 and one in Tulare on September 17—were determined to be either non-depredation or of unknown cause.
The increase in confirmed wolf activity has heightened concerns in rural communities, where livestock losses impact local economies. CDFW continues to monitor wolf populations and potential conflicts, while offering resources to help mitigate the impacts on ranchers and farmers.
This latest update underscores the ongoing challenges posed by the return of gray wolves to California, particularly in the northern counties. For more details on these incidents, the full depredation reports are available on the CDFW Gray Wolf webpage under the “Potential Conflict and Depredation” section.
Photo of a Tulare wolf
