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Siskiyou Board extends local emergency over gray wolf impacts, creates wolf negotiating team
Summary
After review, the Board extended a local emergency related to the presence and impact of gray wolves and, via reportable closed-session action, appointed a wolf negotiating team including the Chair, Vice Chair, Ag Commissioner, Sheriff, County Counsel and CAO staff to negotiate with CDFW.
The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors voted April 21 to extend a local emergency declared November 18, 2025 for the presence and impact of gray wolves in the county.
Project Coordinator Joanne Johnson recommended the extension and discussed timing for future Board review and updated information on the emergency. Following discussion involving staff and Board members, the motion to extend the local emergency carried on a roll call vote with Supervisors Ed Valenzuela, Michael N. Kobseff, Jess Harris and Ray A. Haupt voting yes; Supervisor Nancy Ogren was absent (SEG 095-097).
The Board subsequently convened closed session on legal and personnel matters. At the closed-session report, County Counsel F. Dean Morgan said the Board decided by a 4–0 vote to form a wolf negotiating team and named members: Chair Ray A. Haupt, Vice Chair Jess Harris, Agricultural Commissioner Jim Smith, Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue, County Counsel F. Dean Morgan and Joanne Johnson from the CAO’s Office. Counsel said the team is intended to serve as a negotiating team regarding wolves with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) (SEG 107-110).
The meeting record shows extension of the emergency and the creation of a negotiating team as formal actions; no specific negotiating mandates or authority limits were included in the minutes excerpt. Staff and Board discussion referenced revising the timing for Board review of the emergency and updating information provided to the Board.
