California (KOLO) – Using $2 million provided by the California Legislature for its Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has awarded funds to four organizations to support efforts to reduce the conflict, according to a Wednesday, July 1, news release.
“CDFW deeply values its partners and looks forward to continued collaboration with these organizations to help reduce wolf-livestock conflicts, support California’s livestock producers and manage the recovery of wolves in California,” CDFW Director Meghan Hertel said.
Gray wolves have naturally returned to California over the last 15 years, bringing new challenges for ranchers, the department said.
The funding is intended to strengthen on-the-ground efforts that protect livestock while supporting the recovery of the species, the department said.
The California Bountiful Foundation, supported by the California Farm Bureau, will collaborate with the department to reimburse livestock producers who suffer confirmed or probable wolf attacks on livestock.
The foundation will also provide education, outreach, and equipment to producers in counties affected by wolves.
The Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District will support livestock producers using approved hazing techniques on gray wolves.
Its work will include outreach, training, and equipment to help producers detect wolf presence.
It will also study the use of electronic cattle ear tags that could alert producers to potential conflict by sensing and reporting abnormal cattle movement or behavior.
The Honey Lake Valley Resource Conservation District will deliver educational and technical assistance programs to help eligible livestock producers implement hazing and deterrence strategies.
It may also provide producers with approved hazing equipment.
Working Circle will provide outreach to livestock producers to reduce cattle vulnerability to wolf depredation through herd management and stockmanship.
The organization will hold workshops and work with producers to assess and reduce depredation risks.
Hertel said the department has heard from ranchers about the financial impacts of the wolf’s return as well as the demands of managing it in the presence of the animal.
As the gray wolf population recovers in California, the department said it will keep working with partners to reduce impacts on livestock.
Reimbursements for depredations and the use of nonlethal deterrent tools and hazing are key parts of that work, it said.
Fladry, radio-activated guard devices, and Foxlights have been used to deter wolves in California.
Increased human presence, including range-riding, aerial drones, and other less-than-lethal hazing, has also helped keep wolves away from livestock, the department said.
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