The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office in California reports residents are under siege from wolves, posting graphic photos of a bloodied stoop where an elk was brought down just yards from a residence. There have been 18 wolf attacks confirmed in 28 days.
Full post: Over the past 28 days, ranchers and residents in Sierra Valley have been under siege from escalating gray wolf activity. While the presence of wolves in the valley is not new, this spring has seen a dramatic increase in attacks.
The incidents began early this month with six calves attacked and wounded. This was quickly followed by two additional calves that were attacked so severely they had to be euthanized. During a visit by Sacramento news media to one of the affected ranches, two wolves were observed and recorded in broad daylight among cows and calves. Although efforts were made to haze the wolves from the pasture, they returned within an hour and attacked two more calves.
Since then, DS Ranches have reported three additional calf attacks resulting in either death or euthanasia. One particularly concerning incident involved a calf killed while California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) game wardens were actively patrolling the property. This highlights the inefficiency of current hazing policies, which are impractical for large-scale ranching operations.
Beyond the DS Ranch incidents, a ranch just north reported three calves, and one cow killed, while a ranch just south reported one cow attacked. In total, at least 18 confirmed wolf attacks have occurred in Sierra Valley within the past 28 days.
On Saturday night, following the Loyalton Fire Department’s Spaghetti Feed at the Sierra Brooks lodge, the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call around 11:00 p.m., reporting a suspected wolf attack on a deer in a resident’s side yard, just 100 yards from the Sierra Brooks Lodge. Deputies responded, but the suspected wolf had fled. As deputies approached, the severely injured deer stood up and fled into nearby brush. While the witness reported extensive injuries consistent with a wolf attack, deputies were unable to euthanize the deer to obtain DNA confirmation. The Sheriff’s Office is awaiting confirmation from CDFW that the tracks located in the yard are wolf.
This morning, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Sheriff Mike Fisher received a call from a local resident reporting that his son had discovered evidence of an animal attack on their front porch around 12:30 a.m. The resident provided photographs showing bloody wolf tracks on the porch. Sheriff Fisher coordinated with CDFW and responded to the scene. Upon investigation, it was determined that at least two wolves were involved in the attack. It is believed that an elk, while being chased by the wolves, ended up at the residence’s doorstep before ultimately being taken down and killed approximately 50 yards from the house.
Fortunately, no human injuries occurred. The resident, awakened by the commotion, initially believed someone was attempting to break into the home through the front door.
The suspected wolf attack in Sierra Brooks, combined with the confirmed elk attack just feet from a residence, underscores a growing and alarming trend: these wolves are demonstrating very little fear of humans and are moving closer and closer into our residential areas and communities. This escalating behavior represents a serious public safety concern that cannot be ignored by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Viewer Discretion Advised: The attached photographs are graphic.
Full post with photos: https://www.facebook.com/sierracosheriff/posts/pfbid034z6QBk7rBRxTEXMnzXGomXtQ78AduCts3Z1GFooevd8Dxh4QjQ44DeGtHUrigJUdl
Source: Sierra County Sheriff’s Office
photo: National Park Service, Jacob W Frank
