California Department of Fish and Wildlife reports 'probable' wolf kill in Siskiyou County

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has reported what investigators are calling a “probable” wolf kill of a calf in Siskiyou County.

• By David Smith
  

  
  Posted Dec. 21, 2015
  
  

  The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has reported what investigators are calling a “probable” wolf kill of a calf in Siskiyou County.

  According to a recently released livestock depredation report – which has names and locations redacted, per CDFW policy to not reveal the location of the county’s first documented wolf pack – the employee of a county rancher reported seeing five wolves feeding on a dead calf in a meadow on Nov. 10.

  The report states that ranch employees had been gathering cattle at the time of the reported sighting, and when they returned to the site, found only blood and a pair of hind legs presumed to belong to a single calf.

  CDFW investigators observed wolves directly near the same meadow, and were able to prompt responding howls with a recording, according to the report. In addition, they also found scat believed to be from wolves with what appeared to be cattle hair near where the calf was found.

  The following day, the investigators discovered the bones of an adult cow, picked nearly clean, while searching for the rest of the calf carcass.

  The report states that there were marks on the calf’s legs, but few puncture wounds were found upon examination by a CDFW environmental scientist, and ultimately, the cause of death could not be definitively determined.

  The cause of death of the cow was also undetermined, the report states.

  According to the report, the investigators concluded, based on department criteria, that the calf’s death was ruled a “probable” wolf kill – with the other options being confirmed and possible or unknown.

  The cow’s death was ruled possible or unknown.

  The state’s first documented wolf pack was announced in August in an undisclosed area in eastern Siskiyou County, and CDFW released its draft wolf conservation plan earlier this month for public comment.

  
  
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