Senate Bill 113, the budget bill passed at the end of the legislative session, includes $5 million in new funding to help support ranchers dealing with wolf conflicts, Sen. Megan Dahle announced today.
The new resources include $2.5 million specifically to compensate livestock owners for animals killed by gray wolves, which are currently protected by both the state and federal Endangered Species Acts, which strictly limit the steps ranchers can take to protect their livestock.
Another $2.5 million is available for other activities related to wolf management. This could include investigations of suspected wolf attacks on livestock, collaring wolves, or assessing wolf activity in new areas and keeping livestock owners up to date.
“What ranchers really need is for wolves to be delisted and to be allowed depredation permits when wolves attack livestock,” Sen. Dahle said. “I look forward to that happening, but realistically it will take time. For now, that means we need a consistently funded compensation program and other support for ranchers.”
Senate Bill 1135, which is on the governor’s desk awaiting a signature, recently passed the Legislature with Sen. Dahle’s support. It gives the compensation program a firmer legal foundation, and sets guidelines for California that have worked in other Western states where wolves have become established. The bill was the product of extensive negotiations between wildlife and agriculture groups.
“I understand the deep frustration over wolves. They are killing cows that belong to personal friends and neighbors, and I have heard the pain in these ranchers’ voices as they describe the struggle to protect herds with inadequate tools,” Sen. Dahle said. “I want to see faster progress, and will keep pushing, but the only way forward in California is working with the Legislature, which doesn’t count many ranchers among its members. That means staying at the table and negotiating. I will do that and we will keep moving forward so ranchers can stay in business and thrive in this state.”