Sheriff Mike Fisher told the Sierra County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday that eastern Sierra County ranchers have suffered repeated wolf depredations for weeks and that the pattern of attacks is producing both direct and indirect losses.

Fisher described 16 consecutive days of depredations in one part of the county and said wolves have killed adult cattle, calves and newborns. "These wolves are not discriminating. They're taking down 1,400 pound cows. They're taking 700 pound calves down, and they're taking newborn calves," he said, describing the scale of recent losses.

The sheriff outlined practical problems in proving wolf kills to secure compensation. He said coyotes often scavenge carcasses before investigators arrive, leaving insufficient evidence to confirm wolf predation. That can delay or reduce state or federal compensation, Fisher said. "When the calf is discovered, it's often just a head and a backbone," he said.

Fisher said the California State Sheriffs' Association has formed a wildlife committee of which he is chair, with sheriffs from Siskiyou and Lassen counties as co-chairs. He said the group is seeking a meeting with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot to press for changes in how the state handles lethal removal of wolves that are repeatedly implicated in depredations. Fisher emphasized the request was for targeted removal of specific, identified wolves, not a blanket policy.

The sheriff also pointed to nonlethal and compensatory issues, citing a recent state legislative appropriation he described as $2 million to address losses, and research from UC Davis about stress effects on livestock reproduction and weight gain that create longer-term economic impacts for producers.

Board members asked that wolf impacts remain on future agendas and suggested adding a standing item so supervisors can receive updates and consider formal action if needed.

The board did not take formal action on policy changes at the meeting; Fisher said he is pursuing direct talks with state executive leadership and the Sheriffs' Association is working with local ranchers and wildlife investigators on evidence collection and targeted responses.