Siskiyou Sheriff Holds Dorris Town Hall on Wolf Concerns

County officials say residents raised concerns about livestock depredation, wolf habituation and public safety in the Butte Valley region.

DORRIS, Calif. – Siskiyou County officials met with Butte Valley residents this week during a town hall focused on public safety concerns, including ongoing issues involving gray wolves and livestock.

According to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue, Supervisor Jess Harris and Office of Emergency Services Director Bryan Schenone attended the Dorris town hall to hear from residents and discuss regional concerns.

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The Sheriff’s Office said some of the most significant concerns raised in the area involve gray wolf activity, including livestock depredation and wolf habituation.

According to the agency, recent studies analyzing local scat samples from 2022 and 2023 indicated that cattle made up at least 70% of the gray wolf diet in the area. The Sheriff’s Office said that finding has contributed to concerns that wolves have become increasingly dependent on cattle.

Sheriff’s officials said LaRue has been in continued communication with state and federal leaders while urging changes to gray wolf management. The agency also encouraged residents to report threatening or abnormal wolf interactions through the county’s website.

The Sheriff’s Office thanked residents who attended the Dorris meeting and said additional town halls are planned this month.

Upcoming Siskiyou County town halls include:

• Quartz Valley at 6 p.m. on May 12

• Happy Camp at 6:30 p.m. on May 13

• Tulelake at 6:30 p.m. on May 27

• Hornbrook at 6:30 p.m. on May 28

The Sheriff’s Office said the meetings are part of continued community outreach across Siskiyou County.

Cover image: Siskiyou County Sheriff, Jeremiah LaRue, speaks with residents during a town hall in Dorris. County officials said the meeting focused on public safety concerns, including gray wolf activity and livestock depredation. Photo courtesy of the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office.

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