Of course, this website says nothing about all of the wild animals that wolves are killing throughout the state, and reports from all over western states where there are wolves, there are complaints of the lack of elk herds, and actual decimation of entire herds, so we know there are huge elk and deer losses here in California. Especially since the wolves are now having to prey on cattle.

One of the reported incidents of a dead calf led investigators to the scene where they actually found a wolf feeding on the carcass, and yet determined it had not been killed by wolves. The only known records of “native” wolves in California were a different species than the Canadian Gray wolf currently in the state, so these wolves are not “returning” to repopulate the state, but an invasive, non-native species.

On October 29, 2017, Fox News reported a “Wolf kills cow in California for the first time in more than 100 years.” Since that time, wolves have been killing cattle in northern California on almost a monthly basis, thanks to the listing of them as an “endangered species’, when in fact they are not.

Also, the listing is based on the wolf’s condition only in California rather than on the species status throughout its natural range, as it required, making the designation of “endangered” as erroneous and incorrect.

Here’s the most recent “Incident Reports” regarding reported depredation sent to the DFW from June 1, 2018 to Sept. 7, 2018, a total of nine (9), not all of which were determined to be by wolves:

LIVESTOCK LOSS DETERMINATION:

Sept. 7: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Investigation ID:090718-LAS

Date Investigated: 9/7/18

General Area: Private land, western Lassen County.

General situation and animal information: On the morning of September 7, a livestock producer found a dead calf in a meadow. He suspected wolf depredation and notified USDA Wildlife Services (WS) and CDFW. CDFW and WS staff investigated the carcass and site that afternoon. The dead calf was approximately 6 months old and weighed approximately 450 pounds. Based on the producer’s statement that he had seen the calf alive the previous day and the condition of the carcass, it was estimated to have died on the night of September 6.

Physical evidence of attack by a predator: Multiple bite wounds with associated hemorrhage.

Evidence that the predator was a wolf: Bite wounds and hemorrhage in locations typically attacked by wolves (multiple pre-mortem bites on right front and left hind legs). Evidence of wolf presence near the time of the animal(s) death/injury: The meadow the carcass was found in is frequented by the Lassen Pack, and during the investigation wolf tracks were observed on nearby roads. Although the pack’s satellite-collared female wolf was 8-10 miles away from the site on the night of September 6, trail camera photos and satellite collar data indicate that local wolves are sometimes miles from each other.

No evidence of other large carnivores was observed at the site.

Recent wolf depredation in the same or nearby area: Confirmed depredation of a calf on August 15, 2018 approximately 15 miles away.

Cause of death/injury: Confirmed Wolf.

Other Summary: The nature and location of the calf’s injuries were consistent with those typically observed when wolves prey on cattle and confirm this incident as a wolf depredation.

Aug. 19: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Investigation ID: 081918-LAS

Date Investigated: 08/19/18

General Area: Western Lassen County, public land

General situation and animal information: On August 18 a calf carcass was found by a livestock producer and reported to CDFW and USDA Wildlife Services. CDFW and WS investigated the carcass and its surroundings on the morning of August 19.

Physical evidence of attack by a predator: No bite marks, scrapes or punctures (or associated hemorrhage) were found on the carcass. No struggle or kill site was observed.

Evidence that the predator was a wolf: None

Evidence of wolf presence near the time of the animal(s) death/injury: There was no evidence of wolves in the immediate vicinity of the carcass. Two days earlier the producer had observed wolf tracks approximately 0.6 miles away from the carcass.

Recent wolf depredation in the same or nearby area: On August 15, Lassen Pack wolves killed a calf approximately 16 miles away.

Cause of death/injury: OtherSummary. The carcass was in good condition and sufficiently intact to allow for a thorough investigation. This animal was not attacked or killed by a wolf or other predator

Aug. 15: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Investigation ID: 081518-LAS

Date Investigated: 8/15/2018

General Area: Private land, western Lassen County.

General situation and animal information: On the morning of August 15, a livestock producer encountered multiple wolves in a pasture near an adult cow. The producer notified USDA Wildlife Services (WS), who notified CDFW. WS and CDFW staff investigated the carcass and site on August 15. The WS wildlife specialist arrived at the site first and observed the adult cow and wolves. He also located a dead calf. Nine wolves were ultimately observed near the carcass and the cow, including two adults, two yearlings, and five pups. The dead calf was approximately one week old and weighed approximately 100 pounds. Based on the condition of the carcass it had died early in the morning on August 15.

Physical evidence of attack by a predator: Multiple bite wounds with associated hemorrhage.

Evidence that the predator was a wolf: Wounds and hemorrhage in locations typically attacked by wolves (multiple bites on both hind legs; also bites to nose, jaw, side of face and throat).

Evidence of wolf presence near the time of the animal(s) death/injury: Wolves were observed at the calf carcass and interacting with the adult cow, which was attempting to protect the carcass. Satellite GPS locations for the wolf LAS01F indicate she was within 250 feet of the carcass site at 9 p.m. on August 14, and at midnight, 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. on August 15.

Recent wolf depredation in the same or nearby area: Probable depredation of a cow on June 1, 2018 approximately six miles away.

Cause of death/injury: Confirmed Wolf

OtherSummary: The nature and location of the calf’s injuries, as well as the presence of wolves at the carcass site near the estimated time of the calf’s death, confirm the incident as a wolf depredation.

July 1: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Investigation ID:070118-LAS

Date Investigated: 7/1/18

General Area: Western Lassen County, private land.

General situation and animal information: A livestock producer found a calf carcass on 7/1/18. The animal had died the previous night, and the producer suspected wolf depredation. USDA Wildlife Services and CDFW staff investigated the carcass and its vicinity that same day. Prior to the investigation, a portion of the

approximately 130 lb. calf had been consumed by scavenging coyotes and birds. However, enough of the carcass remained that investigators were able to conduct a thorough assessment of the potential for predation.

Physical evidence of attack by a predator: There was no evidence of a predator attack. No chase or kill scene was observed, and no bite marks or hemorrhage were observed on the carcass.

Evidence that the predator was a wolf: There was no evidence of a wolf attack.

Evidence of wolf presence near the time of the animal(s) death/injury: There was no evidence of wolf presence around the time of the calf’s death.

Recent wolf depredation in the same or nearby area: None

Cause of death/injury: Other Summary: The cause of the calf’s death was not predation.

June 27: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Investigation ID:062718-PLU

Date Investigated: 6/27/18

General area: Southern Plumas County, private land

General situation and animal information: A livestock producer found a dead calf along a drainage late on June 26. The producer suspected wolf depredation and contacted CDFW on June 27. CDFW and USDA Wildlife Services staff investigated the carcass that day. The approximately 250 lb. calf was observed alive on June 25. By the time of the investigation, its organs and much of its muscle and hide had been consumed.

Physical evidence of attack by a predator: No evidence of a predator attack was observed. However, because the carcass had been largely consumed prior to the investigation, a thorough investigation of all typical predator attack points was not possible.

One hindquarter that was largely intact was closely examined for bite marks. None were found.

Evidence that the predator was a wolf: There was no evidence of predation.

Evidence of wolf presence near the time of the animal(s) death/injury: There was no evidence of wolf presence in the area near the time the calf died.

Recent wolf depredation in the same or nearby area: None

Cause of death/injury: The cause of death is unknown.

June 17: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Investigation ID:061718-LAS

Date Investigated: 6/17/18

General Area: Western Lassen County, private land

General situation and animal information: A livestock producer found a calf carcass on 6/16/18 that had apparently died the previous night. Staff from USDA Wildlife Services investigated the carcass the following day.

Physical evidence of attack by a predator: There was no evidence of a predator attack.

Evidence that the predator was a wolf: There was no evidence of a wolf attack.

Evidence of wolf presence near the time of the animal(s) death/injury: There was no evidence of wolf presence near the time of the calf’s death.

Recent wolf depredation in the same or nearby area: None

Cause of death/injury: Other Summary: The cause of death was not predation. Enough of the calf’s carcass and hide remained to allow a thorough investigation.

June 17: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Investigation ID: 061718-PLU

Date Investigated: 06/17/18

General Area: Northern Plumas County, private land

General situation and animal information: A livestock producer reported that he had lost eight calves over a roughly 30 day period. On or around June 15 he discovered two more calf carcasses.

He contacted CDFW on June 17. Staff from USDA Wildlife Services investigated the carcasses on the same day.

Physical evidence of attack by a predator: Evidence of predation was not observed.

Evidence that the predator was a wolf: Evidence of wolf predation was not observed.

Evidence of wolf presence near the time of the animal(s) death/injury: There was no evidence of wolf presence in the area near the time the calves were killed.

Recent wolf depredation in the same or nearby area: None

Cause of death/injury: Summary: The cause of death of both carcasses is unknown. There was evidence of coyotes near the carcasses, but too little of the carcasses remained for determine whether the calves had been killed by a predator.

June 10: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Investigation ID: 061018-LAS

Date Investigated: 6/10/18

General Area: Southern Lassen County, private land

General situation and animal information: On the afternoon of June 9 a ranch hand received a report of a wolf feeding on the carcass of an approximately 450 lb. calf. The ranch hand notified USDA Wildlife Services and Wildlife Services staff investigated the carcass and surrounding area the following morning. At the time the investigation was conducted, the calf’s internal organs and most muscle tissue had already been consumed. Some rib bones showed evidence of chewing. However, most of the hide remained intact, including the portions from the flanks and legs.

Physical evidence of attack by a predator: Investigators did not find evidence of a predator attack. No bite marks were observed on the hide, and there was no hemorrhaging observed on the

underside of the hide. No sign of a chase or struggle was observed.

Evidence that the predator was a wolf: N/A

Evidence of wolf presence near the time of the animal(s) death/injury: On June 9, one wolf was observed feeding on the carcass. When the investigators arrived on June 10, two wolves were observed approximately 200 yards from the carcass.

Recent wolf depredation in the same or nearby area: A probable wolf depredation occurred 4.7 miles away approximately 12 days earlier (CDFW investigation LAS-060118).

Cause of death/injury: Summary: The cause of the calf’s death was not predation. While most of the muscle and organs had been consumed prior to investigation, nearly the entire hide was intact and thoroughly investigated. No external bite marks or scrapes or internal hemorrhaging was observed on the hide.

June 1: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Investigation ID: 060118-LAS

Date Investigated: 06/01/18

General Area: Southern Lassen County, private property

General situation and animal information: On June 1, a cow carcass was discovered in a stream within a pasture and wolf depredation was suspected. The landowner notified CDFW at approximately 6:20 PM and staff from USDA Wildlife Services and CDFW investigated the carcasslate that evening. Staff from Wildlife Services and CDFW returned to the site on June 2 to complete the investigation. The animal was an adult cow that was estimated to have died approximately three days earlier. Prior to the investigation, nearly all of its organs and muscles had been consumed. Approximately 70 percent of its hide remained.

The remaining hide was in poor condition due to decomposition.

Physical evidence of attack by a predator: Scrapes on the hide and subcutaneous hemorrhaging were found on the cow’s right rear leg at the hock. The hemorrhaging indicated the injury occurred while the animal was alive. Because the carcass was several days old and had been nearly completely consumed, most of the cow could not be thoroughly investigated and no other evidence of predation was found. Very little muscle from the other legs was available for investigation.

Evidence that the predator was a wolf: The scrapes and hemorrhaging on the hind portion of a rear leg occurred in an area typically targeted by attacking wolves.

Evidence of wolf presence near the time of the animal(s) death/injury: Both tracks and scat of an unknown number of wolves were present in the immediate vicinity of the carcass. Wolf tracks were also observed in the stream bottom upstream of the carcass and in the adjacent pasture. GPS locations indicated a collared wolf was at or near the carcass from May 28 through June 1. Bear and coyote tracks were also observed near the carcass.

Recent wolf depredation in the same or nearby area: None. One week earlier, CDFW and Wildlife Services investigated two suspected wolf depredations 5-6 air miles away. One was determined to have died of natural causes, and the other was too decomposed and consumed to determine the cause of death.

Cause of death/injury: Summary: Although the carcass was largely consumed and decomposed, the scrapes and hemorrhaging on the right rear leg were located in a portion of the body typically targeted by wolves. These injuries, as well as evidence of wolves in the pasture near the estimated date of the cow’s death, indicate a reasonable likelihood that wolves killed the cow. The cow’s death is therefore classified as a probable wolf depredation.

-- Bill Karr
Karr is a Staff Writer for Western Outdoor News (www.wonews.com)