The Office of Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick reports that wolf-livestock conflicts continue to escalate across rural Northern California — particularly in Sierra Valley, where the number of confirmed or probable wolf attacks on cattle has more than doubled in recent months, despite state efforts to help.
According to a recent Sacramento Bee report, from March to September 2025, the Sierra Valley region saw 76 confirmed or probable wolf attacks, up from 30 earlier this year, said Hadwick’s office. Statewide, incidents climbed from 54 in June to 122 by September, with most in Sierra, Plumas, Lassen, Modoc and Siskiyou counties. Tulare County remains the only region with no confirmed kills. These attacks have devastated family ranches — costing tens of thousands in livestock losses — and taken an emotional toll on ranchers and their families, said Hadwick’s office.
Local law enforcement, University of California Cooperative Extension and county leaders are working together to support affected residents, including hosting trauma-response training for those coping with repeated losses. The state’s wolf strike team, stationed in Sierra Valley since June, utilized nonlethal deterrents such as drones, night patrols and 24-hour monitoring. However, the strike team’s operations ended September 30 — and despite 16,000 hours dedicated to the effort, local leaders say there is little measurable progress, reports Hadwick’s office.
What Team Hadwick is doing
Hadwick’s office reports that Team Hadwick is working to address the wolf crisis. This year, Hadwick helped secure $2 million in the state budget for the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program — a critical step to help ranchers recover losses and invest in deterrence tools, said her office: “But more must be done. Our ranching families need real solutions, flexibility and a seat at the table as California works to balance wildlife protection with rural livelihoods.”
In Sacramento, Team Hadwick is coordinating educational workshops with law enforcement and wildlife experts to help legislators and Capitol staff understand the realities of living among growing wolf populations.
On the ground, her office promises that Hadwick remains deeply engaged — holding weekly calls with local sheriffs, county leaders, ranchers and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife; assisting producers with compensation paperwork; collaborating with federal partners on delisting and financial relief; and preparing 2026 legislation to bring long-term stability and peace of mind to impacted communities.
Team Hadwick is also advocating for CDFW to move into Phase 3 of the state’s Wolf Plan — a critical step that would allow for a formal status review and the development of long-term management strategies, including potential delisting once population benchmarks are met.
“We remain committed to working with state and federal partners to ensure our communities are heard, our producers are supported and common-sense management tools are available to protect both livestock and local economies,” said Hadwick’s office.