Gray wolves (canis lupus) are listed as endangered under the california endangered species act (cesa)

Thecalifornia state wildlife action plan (swap, 2015) lists the gray wolf as a species of greatest conservationneed, mammal species of special concern, and a focal species of swap conservation strategies. The wolf population in california is in the initial stages of establishment. Since oregon wolf or-7 entered california in late 2011, four breeding packs have formed (shasta, lassen, whaleback, and beckwourth packs), and six GPS collared wolves, and an unknown number of uncollared dispersers have entered california. The shasta pack was last detected in november 2015 and did not persist beyond its first breeding season. The lassen pack has produced a litter each year since 2017 with two litters in 2020. The whaleback pack has produced one litter each year since 2021. The beckwourth pack was discovered in 2021 with evidence of one PUP. Further, a pair of wolves were detected travelling together in north central california. This level of dispersal and reproduction, despite california s distance from large source populations, suggests the wolf population will continue to expand in california. The california department of fish and wildlife (cdfw) developed a conservation plan for gray wolves in california (wolf plan) during a multi-year stakeholder-driven process to conserve and manage wolves as their population increases. Cdfw established a gray wolf program in 2017 to fulfill the adaptive strategy outlined in the wolf plan. A key conservation objective is to mitigate wolf-livestock conflicts and reduce livestock losses. Animportant strategy to achieve this goal includes assisting livestock producers to deploy nonlethal deterrents andsupporting working relationships in affected communities. Lethal control is not an option due to wolves listingas a federal and state endangered species. Therefore, the proactive use of nonlethal deterrents to mitigate wolf livestock conflict is crucial for the conservation and management of wolves in california. Cdfw and itsconservation partners must have sufficient resources to accomplish this vital work. In february 2022, cdfwimplemented an interim wolf-livestock compensation program for eligible producers with livestock losses due toconfirmed or probable wolf depredation and compensation for the use of nonlethal deterrent methods in may 2022.cdfw will implement its three prong wolf-livestock compensation pilot program to include pay for presence IN2023.