California wildlife officials euthanized four gray wolves in Sierra Valley and plan to relocate three more to a wildlife sanctuary, after months of nonlethal efforts failed to prevent livestock attacks that cost ranchers tens of thousands of dollars and terrified residents.
The dramatic steps will have the effect of moving the entire Beyem Seyo pack away from Sierra Valley, where the wolves had become habituated to preying on cattle — to a degree that state conservation officials describe as highly unusual for the protected apex predators.
The euthanizations, which occurred earlier this month, marked the first time in more than a century that California officials have killed wolves, which remain protected under both state and federal endangered species laws. Environmentalists called the decision a tragedy…