Days till Spring 14 The Modoc County Vol. 132, No. 50
RECORD Alturas, California
March 6, 2025
$1.00
Serving Modoc Since 1892 14 Pages
Federal Officials Remove Endangered Gray Wolf OR-158 Near Lakeview Federal officials lethally removed OR-158, an endangered gray wolf, on Feb. 26 after repeated livestock attacks and growing concerns about public safety. The decision came after extensive nonlethal deterrence efforts failed. The removal was conducted under federal regulations that allow lethal action when an endangered animal poses a demonstrable but nonimmediate threat to human safety. OR-158 was linked to eight confirmed and four probable depredations, prompting action by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and USDA Wildlife Services.
Efforts to deter OR-158 included range riders, spotlighting, pasture monitoring, fox lights, air cannons, nonlethal projectiles, carcass removal, and drones with thermal optics. Despite these measures, the wolf continued to prey on livestock. The action has caught the attention of ranchers in Modoc County, where wolves have also been a growing problem. One rancher said ‘These animals are getting bold and showing atypical behavior. This is sad and scary for everyone involved. Many hope this sets a precedent for dealing with problem wolves in their region, where ranchers say depredations are
increasing. We’ve seen the same pattern play out here, with repeated attacks and limited options. Modoc County hopes that this means there’s a solution in sight for their problem wolves too. Wildlife officials say they will continue working with producers to prevent conflicts before they escalate, but ranchers remain concerned about long-term solutions on the heels of yet another confirmed attack Thursday Feb.27 east of Likely. Modoc Record has requested a comment from LaMalfa’s office in regards to OR-157 and will keep you updated as we follow how this wolf story unfolds.
Alturas City Fire Department 114-year old Annual Fundraiser Alturas City Fire Department Holds 114th Annual Fundraiser The Alturas City Fire Department concluded its 114th annual fundraiser with a drawing for cash prizes Monday at the Modoc Record offices. Beckett Bacon, son of Modoc Record Associate Publisher Chelsea Bacon, selected the winning tickets from a secure barrel. The grand prize of $500 was awarded to Angel Lake of State Farm Insurance. Emily Anderson won the second-place prize of $350, while Jalen Estes claimed the third-place prize of $250. Five fourth-place winners each received $50: Frosted by A, John and Becky Dederick, Mike Munoz, Mr. and Mrs. George Studinski, and Ken Ward. Six individuals won $25 prizes: Ken Ward, again,
Photo left to right: Chase Farmer 2nd Assistant Chief, Eric Hunter, Fire Marshal, Beckett Bacon, James Widby 1st Assistant Chief
Young Beckett Bacon draws the winning tickets
Shelby Silva, Cory Royce, Megan Nelson, Chris Murray, and Justin Green. The community showed strong support for the fundraiser, with firefighters selling 9,915
response time. Firefighters also dedicated significant time to training throughout the year. The department conducted 41 training sessions, totaling 126 hours of training.
tickets. In addition to the fundraiser, the Alturas City Fire Department released its fire and medical call statistics for 2024. The department responded to 42 fire calls
and 301 medical calls, totaling 343 emergency responses. Fire response time accumulated to 17 hours and 2 minutes, while medical calls amounted to 68 hours and 10 minutes in
The Alturas City Fire Department appreciates the continued support from the community and remains committed to providing emergency services to local residents.
Wolf Kill Investigations Marks Second in One Week Modoc County Sheriff Tex Dowdy assisted Russ Turner, Wildlife Technician for USDA Wildlife Services, with a suspected wolf kill investigation in Jess Valley on Tuesday. This marks the second suspected wolf kill in a week at the same ranch and the fourth in a month, raising increasing alarm among local ranchers. A ranch hand reported that all four attacks occurred near his home, fueling concerns for his children’s safety. With wolves preying so close to human dwellings, Sheriff Dowdy agreed, stating, “The issue has evolved from a livestock problem to a growing public safety concern.” Sheriff Dowdy urged residents to remain
vigilant and report any wolf activity immediately. In an interview with The Modoc Record, he stated that efforts are underway to declare an emergency in Modoc County to bring attention to these issues. As tensions escalate, Modoc County officials and representatives like Heather Hadwick will continue to call for amendments to the current wolf management policies and legislation supporting local ranchers. Supervisor Ned Coe has encouraged residents to push for legislative action, stating, “We need a management plan that reflects the realities of rural communities.” The Modoc Record will continue to provide updates as the situation develops.