Posted on 07/16/2026 5:20:33 AM PDT by george76
Two new studies examining gray wolves in California paint a complex picture of life on California’s ranching landscapes: wolves eat cattle more than anything else and the presence of the predators causes significant stress among livestock.
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wolves from the Lassen and Harvey packs in northeastern California were primarily eating cattle. They collected scat samples during the summer months of 2022 and 2023 and found 72% of wolf scat contained cattle DNA.
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Wolves are a state and federally recognized endangered species. The first confirmed wolf entered California in 2011, following a nearly 100-year absence. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates the state is now home to nine wolf packs.
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Mule deer are their only significant wild food source, but populations have dropped sharply since the 1970s.
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Keeping wolves away from cattle is difficult on many of these working landscapes.
“Conservatively, we’re talking about a million acres in our study area and 10,000 cow-calf pairs,” said Saitone. “It’s not as simple as putting up an electric fence on a two-acre pasture or putting cattle in the barn at night.”
CATTLE ARE STRESSED
Researchers also examined how living among wolves affects cattle. Their findings suggest the costs of wolf reintroduction extend well beyond animals lost to predation.
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death or depredation is not the only impact here,” said Saitone. “Living among wolves for cattle is a chronically stressful experience
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elevated stress levels translate into lower conception rates. It’s a concern long raised by ranchers that has not yet been established through direct biological evidence. When breeding cows fail to conceive, it can directly affect a rancher’s bottom line.
“That’s their whole purpose,” said Saitone. “These are mother cows that are supposed to be generating calves as a marketable product.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thefencepost.com ...
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Most people knew about the diet of wolves, no sense in funding a study. What a waste.
Duh!
So sick of the wolf thing. There’s a reason why we exterminated them the first time. If someone wants to reintroduce them, they personally can pay for a radio collar and if it comes and kills my animal, I set the price they personally pay for the animal. If it’s some kids prized pony and she says it’s worth 100 bazillion dollars then wolf owner better have a fat wallet.
Wolves are a state and federally recognized endangered species. The first confirmed wolf entered California in 2011, following a nearly 100-year absence. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates the state is now home to nine wolf packs.
All protected from population control. It doesn’t matter if the wolves are killing all your stock, and putting you into bankruptcy.
Udiots who love predators forced them on the rest of us.
Reg’ler Sherlock Holmes, ‘e is!
Who knew?
Hmm. Protected predatory species feasting on defenseless, domesticated, herds. It’s like a metaphor or something… 🤔
Saw one in northern California while driving on a farm. Thought it was a dog. It bolted. Can’t believe how fast it ran. I was shooting squirrels so perhaps it was looking for easy food in the daytime.
Wolves are protected. People are not. Forget it Jake. It’s California.
You mean California wolves aren’t vegans?.....................
“Udiots who love predators forced them on the rest of us.”
You mean these wolves or something else?
Reintroduction of wolves is just part of the overall leftist plot to destroy America.
I thought this was about CO at first.
Dear Wolves: save a cow, eat a vegan.
~~Maddie10
EET MOR DEER
Was the 1970s the peak of the mule deer population or is that early date given so as to not coincide with the first known wolf entering California? If the wolves aren’t responsible for the decline or accelerated decline, then what is?
Could poaching from “undocumented populations” be a factor?
SSS
Grizzlies are next.
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