Lassen County Sheriff wrote the following letter to Secretary Wade Crowfoot California Natural Resources Agency
On January 1, 2026, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office received a report of wolf depredations on the Willow Creek Ranch on Horse Lake Road north of Susanville. Personnel from the Sheriff’s Office were advised a horse and a calf were attacked by wolves. A USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services trapper was already on scene conducting an investigation. Upon arrival, we contacted the owners of the Willow Creek Ranch, Wyatt, Brad and Jack Hansen, who directed us to their horse “Smoke” who was attached in the pasture to the west of the main residence of the ranch. The pasture is immediately adjacent to the main residence. The blood and wolf tracks were present throughout the area. The blood trail led from the southern fence line to the eastern fence of the pasture. Within approximately a dozen yard of the fence is a children’s playground set up for those who live at the residence. Upon examination of the horse, the right hind quarter was covered in blood. An avulsion approximately six inches long by four inches wide was present. The avulsion was deep showing a large amount of tissue was torn away from the area.
The horse was bleeding and still alive at the time it was examined. After speaking with the Hanson’s, we were informed the horse would have to be euthanized. There was clear evidence of wolf tracks in the area and the kill was confirmed to be a wolf depredation by the federal trapper. The calf that was killed was located in the pasture to the east of the main residence. You could clearly see the main ranch from the location of the kill. The calf was approximately six hundred pounds and attacked at the rear inside hind quarter and near the left ear. Bite marks were present at both wounds. Based on the wolf tracking software, wolves from the Harvey Pack were present only a short distance away in Rice Canyon the day prior. It is probable the Harvey Pack is responsible for the depredations at the Hanson property.
Upon completion of the investigation, no evidence was present to show this was a kill for food or sustaining life by the wolves. These attacks were purely for the act of killing. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife was contacted and advised about the incident.
On January 3, 2026 the Sheriff’s Office received a report of another wolf depredation on the Hagata Ranch located just to the southeast of the Willow Creek Ranch. This incident, the calf appeared to be eaten or at least violently attacked. This was within close proximity to the main residence of the ranch as well. This has been attributed to the nearby Harvey Pack as well.
Lassen County has experienced 45 depredations with 42 of them confirmed to be by the nearby wolf packs. With the exception of a few, these have been attributed to the Harvey Pack. In late October, seven kills were made by this pack in the Termo-Grasshopper area of the Lassen County. The Hansen’s alone have experienced 11 depredations. This pack has become a widespread threat to the producers in Lassen County. The pack appears to be expanding their territory
into a larger area of Lassen County. With the majority of the producers removing their cattle for the winter, the wolves have predictably begun to encroach
on the residential areas of the ranches as they livestock has been moved closer to home. This is situation that was totally foreseeable and often presented by Sheriffs in counties where wolves are known to be present. In March 2025, I sent a letter to CDFW stating the need for intervention with the Harvey Pack and its continued threat to those who live, work and reside in Lassen County. While meetings were held and intervention was taken in the Sierra Valley, I was told that the issues in Lassen County were not as pressing and not addressed. While understanding the situation in Sierra Valley, I now ask for assistance and intervention into wolves that a no longer just hunting to survive, but a killing for the sake of killing. This introduces a continuing and looming danger to the residents of Lassen County. I am increasingly concerned about the health and mental well being of Lassen County as these attacks continue to happen without meaningful intervention.
As the Sheriff, I am asking again for the means to intervene and protect those in my County from a problem wolf pack that has clearly become an increasing threat. As you are aware, there is legislation pending for the delisting of the Gray Wolf from the endangered species act. California should do the same and allow for Phase III of the wolf plan implementing depredations when necessary. We need to address this in partnership before it become the public safety
risk it is on course to become.
Sincerely,
John McGarva, Sheriff-Coroner
Lassen County Sheriff’s Office
