"Lassen County Sheriff John McGarva released a letter on Monday, saying gray wolves have "become a widespread threat to the producers in Lassen County" and pointing to 45 attacks on livestock since January 2025. In the most recent incident, a horse named "Smoke" was euthanized after suffering a major leg injury during a suspected attack by gray wolves on Jan. 1. A roughly 600-pound calf on the same property was also found dead with bite marks."
"In the letter addressed to the secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, McGarva warned that the wolves were expanding their territory in Lassen County and claimed they were "killing for the sake of killing," a point disputed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. "Wolves hunt to meet their biological needs, which could be food, protection of territory or defense," Peter Tira, an information officer with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said in an emailed statement to SFGATE."
Lassen County experienced 45 reported wolf attacks on livestock since January 2025, prompting the sheriff to request state help. Recent incidents included a horse named Smoke euthanized after a major leg injury and a roughly 600-pound calf found dead with bite marks on Jan. 1, and another calf killed and eaten on Jan. 3, with the Harvey pack reportedly nearby. The sheriff warned wolves are expanding territory and said they were "killing for the sake of killing," a characterization disputed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. State officials said wolves hunt to meet biological needs such as food, territory protection, or defense. Gray wolves carry federal and state endangered protections and ten known packs are now in California.
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