Wolf Pack Kills Calf in California

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TAYLORSVILLE—A pack of wolves from the Lassen pack attacked a herd of cattle on a ranch near Taylorsville in Plumas County on April 1, fatally injuring a year old calf that was later put down after an investigation by authorities.

According to a report from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, on the evening of April 2, a cattle owner’s neighbors heard a commotion amongst the owners cattle. The neighbors and additional neighbors responded to the commotion, which included the sounds of a calf bawling loudly. Using spotlights, the responders observed three wolves in the pasture and found the cattle tightly grouped together. The responders honked a vehicle horn and shined a light on the wolves until they fled the pasture.

On April 2, one of the responders located an injured calf in the pasture and contacted DFW staff. The calf was approximately one month old and weighed approximately 200 pounds. The calf was captured and held in a stock trailer, and DFW staff and a USDA Wildlife Services specialist investigated its injuries and the site on April 3. Due to the extent of its injuries, the calf was euthanized on the evening of April 3. DFW and Wildlife Services staff returned on April 4 to further assess its wounds and tissues.

Substantial injury was noted on the upper parts of both hind legs, the side of the right front leg and on the right side of the neck/throat, consistent with a predator attack. The extensive hemorrhaging observed on the legs is typical of canid attacks.

Evidence that the attack was from wolves was from multiple witnesses reporting seeing three wolves in the pasture, plus a GPS point from the collar indicated that female wolf LAS01 was in the pasture at 9 p.m. on April 1 at the time of the initial attack.

Varminter Magazine
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