Wolves Attack Livestock in Northern California, Ranchers Grow Concerned

Ranchers in Siskiyou County face increasing threats from the Whaleback Pack of wolves.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Wolves are becoming a growing concern for ranchers across California, with the issue intensifying in recent months. For seventh-generation rancher Kylee Truax in Siskiyou County, the threat is personal and immediate, as she has lost two cows in less than 48 hours to attacks by the Whaleback Pack of wolves. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has taken steps to address the issue, including killing four wolves from the Beyem Seyo pack in Plumas County in 2025, but Truax believes more help is needed for ranchers dealing with wolf conflicts.

Why it matters

The rise of wolf populations in California has created significant challenges for ranchers, who are struggling to protect their livestock from attacks. This issue highlights the ongoing tension between wildlife conservation efforts and the livelihood of rural communities that rely on livestock farming.

The details

In less than 48 hours, Truax said two of her cows were ripped apart by wolves from the Whaleback Pack, which have lived in Siskiyou County for a little over five years. Truax said the wolves are not afraid of humans and sometimes kill just for fun rather than for necessity. The toll goes beyond the animals that are killed, affecting the rest of the herd as well, with the cows becoming stressed and losing weight. Despite recent actions by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, such as capturing and collaring five gray wolves in Northern California, Truax believes more help is needed for ranchers dealing with wolf conflicts.

  • On February 16, 2026, two of Truax's cows were killed by the Whaleback Pack of wolves.
  • In 2023, the Yowlumni pack was discovered in Tulare County and has been living there ever since.
  • In October 2025, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife killed four wolves from the Beyem Seyo pack in Plumas County that were relentlessly attacking livestock.

The players

Kylee Truax

A seventh-generation rancher in Siskiyou County, California, who has faced attacks on her livestock by the Whaleback Pack of wolves.

Whaleback Pack

A pack of wolves that have lived in Siskiyou County, California, for a little over five years and have been a growing concern for local ranchers.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

The state agency that has taken steps to address the issue of wolf attacks on livestock, including capturing and collaring wolves and killing four wolves from the Beyem Seyo pack in 2025.

Yowlumni Pack

A pack of wolves that was discovered in Tulare County, California, in 2023 and has been living there ever since.

Beyem Seyo Pack

A pack of wolves in Plumas County, California, that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife killed four members of in 2025 due to relentless attacks on livestock.

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What they’re saying

“I think they are beautiful, but they're not friendly.”

— Kylee Truax, Rancher (kmph.com)

“You can do as much as you want, but the trouble with the Whaleback Pack is they're not afraid of humans. They've been so just accepted and everybody has to deal with them that they're not even scared of you.”

— Kylee Truax, Rancher (kmph.com)

“We've tried to do everything you can. As a rancher with livestock, any kind of livestock, you just cannot deal with wolves.”

— Kylee Truax, Rancher (kmph.com)

“They got chased around all night on early morning and now they're not gonna eat for a couple of days. So they're gonna lose weight, they're stressed out, they're just profit there because you're losing weight, you're losing weight, you're losing everything.”

— Kylee Truax, Rancher (kmph.com)

“You have to be scared of them 'cause they're not scared of you and they've made that very obvious.”

— Kylee Truax, Rancher (kmph.com)

What’s next

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to continue monitoring the location of the wolves through the tracking collars they have placed on some of the animals, in an effort to help prevent future conflicts between the wolves and local livestock.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing wildlife conservation efforts with the needs of rural communities that rely on livestock farming. While steps have been taken to address the problem, such as tracking the wolves' movements, more support may be needed for ranchers like Kylee Truax who are facing the immediate threat of wolf attacks on their livestock.