On this groundbreaking three-person episode of North State Rocks, Perry Thompson brought together three distinct perspectives on a crisis that's spiraling out of control: Wyatt Hanson (fourth-generation rancher), Richard Egan (rancher and former county administrator), and John McGarva (Lassen County Sheriff).
Together, they revealed something that policy documents and wildlife agency reports obscure: wolves have evolved from a ranching problem into a law enforcement crisis.
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The Rancher's Reality
Hanson doesn't speak in abstractions. His Willow Creek Ranch has experienced 10 confirmed wolf kills (nine on his property, one in Sierra County). His fourth-generation family operation, which also includes his father and brother, is under siege.
Richard Egan, whose family has raised cattle since 1970 across multiple counties, confirmed the pattern Wyatt described. Grazing in Plumas National Forest, he's watched wolves systematically target his livestock while state reimbursement covers only the dead animal, not the cascading losses.
Both agreed: the real threat isn't the kills themselves, but the escalation. Wolves are learning. They're becoming more aggressive, more habituated to human presence, and more efficient at killing.
The Sheriff's Hands Are Tied
The most sobering perspective came from Sheriff McGarva, a Lassen County native with ranching in his family background. He's handling two to three wolf-related calls per week (personally!) while managing a county the size of Connecticut with limited deputies.
Here's the critical issue: wolves are "double protected" under state and federal law. Sheriff McGarva can issue public safety directives for mountain lions or bears, but not wolves. When wolves appear within 50 feet of homes and exhibit aggressive behavior atypical of wild animals, he has no enforcement mechanism.
“I'm not the chances of me or one of my deputies being there when that occurs is very slim,” he explained.
When ranchers act in self-defense, they face reverse-burden-of-proof investigations by state wildlife agencies, in which they must justify their actions.
The sheriff also highlighted a critical point: wolves are becoming more aggressive toward the public, contrary to official wildlife narratives. Yet his office is legally handcuffed.
Richard Egan, speaking from government experience, emphasized the role of misinformation. “When you see things on social media about wolves, check the sources,” he urged. The Center for Biological Diversity-backed "experts" don't reflect the ground truth. Neither do Yellowstone fantasies from urban voters disconnected from ranching realities.
What Comes Next
Wyatt's closing plea was direct: the state needs lethal control as a management tool, a delisted zone, and federal assistance. Without an escalated policy change, he warned, the predation will continue to grow exponentially.
Sheriff McGarva reinforced the urgency. The impacts are accelerating. If policymakers don't act now, this crisis will consume resources and endanger lives.
SEE ALSO: Wolves, Ranchers, and the Cost of Conservation: A Conversation with Jessica Vigil from Elwood Ranch
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