Citizen Portal
Sign In

Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!

Ranchers press for faster depredation response as wolves expand across California

California State Assembly · January 27, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Ranchers, sheriffs and CDFW clashed over timeliness of depredation investigations, appeals and compensation. CDFW described a three‑pronged wolf compensation program and tracking tools; ranchers urged more collars, appeals mechanisms and $31 million in funding.

Ranchers and local law enforcement told an Assembly informational hearing that state wildlife managers need more resources and clearer procedures to respond to wolf depredations, while CDFW outlined current tools and recent pilot funding.

Kirk Wilbur of the California Cattlemen’s Association recounted escalating livestock losses and urged sustained funding and operational changes, including more GPS collars on wolves, improved telemetry and an appeals process when depredation determinations are inconclusive. Wilbur said ranchers experience both direct loss and significant indirect costs — lower weight gain,…

Already have an account? Log in

Subscribe to keep reading

Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.

  • Unlimited articles
  • AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
  • Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
  • Follow topics and more locations
  • 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
30-day money-back on paid plans