California ranchers are seeking greater authority to protect their livestock from gray wolves, with Republican lawmakers introducing a package of bills aimed at allowing the use of non-lethal deterrents like pepper balls. The proposed legislation comes in response to an increase in wolf predation on cattle, which has left ranchers facing significant losses and distressed animals.
Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick, a Republican representing Alturas, has championed the bills, advocating for measures that would permit authorized individuals, including livestock producers and those sanctioned by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), to employ pepper-ball-style projectiles. These are intended for hazing, or deterring, wolves and other wildlife that threaten livestock and human safety.
"The intent is not crowd control tear gas, but rather something similar to pepper spray for bears — something a little smelly that keeps the wolf away and may leave a bruise," Hadwick stated. She added that pepperball hazing could provide ranchers and wildlife managers with an additional tool to reduce wolf-livestock conflicts and prevent situations where wolves become habituated to preying on cattle, potentially leading to their lethal removal.
James Gallagher, a former Republican assemblymember and co-author of the bill package, highlighted the severity of the wolf attacks, describing them as gruesome for ranchers in Northern California. He noted that many injured cattle suffer severe wounds and must be euthanized. Gallagher criticized Governor Gavin Newsom for what he perceives as a lack of attention to the issue affecting rural Californians.
Gray wolves, which had been absent from California for approximately a century, began to reappear in 2011 through natural migration from Oregon. They are currently protected under both state and federal endangered species laws. Sightings have become more frequent, including a wolf observed in Los Angeles County.
Senator Shannon Grove, also a Republican, is co-authoring another bill, AB 1722, which aims to provide civil, administrative, and criminal penalty protections under the California Endangered Species Act for individuals using necessary and reasonable force to protect themselves or others from immediate bodily harm by protected species. Grove stated that ranchers feel powerless as wolves prey on calves, and she criticized animal rights activists for what she considers a misrepresentation of the issue.
"These people say they care about animals, but they don’t care about this baby [calf] just dropping on the ground, and then these wolves come and just start ripping it apart," Grove commented.
The legislative efforts follow a CDFW announcement in October regarding the lethal removal of four wolves from the Beyem Seyo pack. This action was taken after an "unprecedented" number of livestock attacks in Sierra Valley. Between March 28 and October 14, 2025, these wolves were linked to 70 confirmed or probable livestock losses, constituting a significant portion of the state's total wolf-caused losses during that period. State officials indicated that despite months of non-lethal deterrence efforts, including drones, bean bags, and constant field presence, the wolves had become accustomed to preying on cattle.
Ranchers are not advocating for unrestricted hunting of wolves but rather for the authority to manage wolves that have demonstrated a pattern of attacking cattle. Gallagher clarified, "We’re not talking about going out and taking out every wolf. We’re just talking about the problem of wolves who have essentially learned to kill cattle."