California wildlife officials took to the extreme action of euthanizing several of grey wolves, authorities announced on Friday. Four grey wolves from California’s Beyem Seyo pack were killed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in combination with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
In the October press release, the department stated the pack’s breeding pair identified as WHAO8M and LAS23F were killed along with two younger wolves. And then in a mistake, a juvenile male BEY12M had been misidentified as the breeding male and killed. The remains of two other juveniles were later found; their cause of death has not been determined yet. At this time, state officials are working to trap the other young wolves and transfer them to wildlife sanctuaries.
The decision to kill the wolves followed months of conflict between livestock farmers and the wolves killing the farm animals where they typically hunt and eat other wildlife including bison and deer.
“Between March 28 and Sept. 10, 2025, the wolves were responsible for 70 total livestock losses. With 110 confirmed or probable wolf-caused livestock losses statewide during this period, these specific wolves account for 63% of the total livestock losses across California during this timeframe. From Sept. 10, 2025, to Oct. 14, 2025, 17 additional confirmed or probable livestock losses have been documented. CDFW continues to work with livestock operators and federal partners to investigate depredation events.”
The wolves habituation to livestock inadvertently draws wolves closer to human communities, increasing the potential for conflict despite their natural avoidance of people.
Social media backlash has been swift. One comment really hit home with animal advocates.
If cattle ranchers want to share public lands, they will actuallyhave to make concessions for wildlife.
And another;
These are the same kind of a-holes that start a literal riot when the gubmint limits how much they can graze their cattle for free on BLM land. Which is where the Wolves live (ie., are hiding from humans)
Gray wolves are protected as endangered species under both state and federal law, the California Endangered Species Act and the federal Endangered Species Act. CDFW takes that designation extraordinarily seriously, and lethal removal is permitted only under strict conditions.
As of late 2025, California has an estimated population of at least 70 gray wolves.
What do you think?
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