The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is changing how wolf-livestock depredation determinations are reported online.
In the past, CDFW has posted individual depredation determination files for each investigation. Moving forward, these determinations will instead be posted in a single, regularly updated file that summarizes all investigations for a given calendar year in a table format.
This change is being made for two main reasons:
- Faster public access to information: By streamlining the reporting process, CDFW can reduce the time between when an investigation is completed and when the information is available to the public.
- Growing number of investigations: As California’s wolf population increases, the number of livestock depredation investigations has also risen. A single summary table describing the results of all investigations will allow stakeholders and the public to more efficiently obtain investigation results.
The summary file will include the same core information previously provided in individual forms, and it will be updated on a more regular basis to ensure timely and transparent communication.
In addition, CDFW’s gray wolf webpage will contain regularly updated graphs summarizing the number of investigations and confirmed/probable losses by county and by pack.
Livestock producers who have had an investigation can contact CDFW if they would like additional details about the determination; however no additional information will be necessary if you choose to apply for compensation for confirmed and/or probable wolf depredations.
The latest version of this document (11/1/2025) has been posted online: 2025 Wolf-Livestock Depredation Report (11.1.2025) (PDF)