The expansion of gray wolf populations is upending California cattle operations, leading to millions of dollars in losses for ranchers, a report published Monday has found.
The introduction of each new wolf can cause up to $162,000 in expenses related to growth and pregnancies, according to the research, released by the University of California, Davis.
Long assumed to be extinct in the Golden State, a lone gray wolf crossed over the border from Oregon in 2011, and by 2015, a pack was identified in Northern California’s Siskiyou County, researchers noted.
As of the end of 2024, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife had documented seven packs, while noting evidence of the animals in four other locations as well.
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