Petition: Stop Killing Wolves. Coexistence Works.

Wolves are coming back — and that should be a moment of pride, not panic.

After being hunted to near extinction, wolves are finally reclaiming parts of the landscapes they once shaped. But instead of responding with science and compassion, too many state wildlife agencies still reach for the same old solution: kill the wolves.

That choice is unnecessary — and wrong.

Recent reporting shows that ranchers in California are proving that coexistence works. When wolves returned, these ranchers didn’t demand extermination. They adapted. They followed wolf movements, changed grazing practices, used range riders and deterrents, and worked to prevent conflict before it happened. It wasn’t easy. But it kept livestock alive and wolves alive — without turning recovery into a death sentence.

This matters because killing wolves doesn’t solve the problem. Researchers have found that it breaks up packs, destabilizes ecosystems, and often leads to more livestock losses — not fewer. It also sends a dangerous message: that wildlife only matters when it stays invisible and doesn’t interfere with industry or commerce.

We refuse to accept that false choice.

Ranchers who adopt coexistence strategies and make earnest commitments to living with wolves and other wildlife deserve real support, not policies that leave them with no option but lethal force. Communities deserve wildlife agencies that lead with prevention, not punishment. And wolves absolutely deserve a chance to exist without being trapped or shot for surviving.

We are calling on state wildlife agencies and ranching communities to follow and lift up the ranchers already choosing coexistence — and to end the reflexive killing of wolves.

Wildlife agencies should:

1: Make non-lethal coexistence the first response, not a last resort

2: Fully fund compensation and prevention programs for ranchers living with wolves

3: Provide hands-on support and resources to expand coexistence statewide

4: Stop unnecessary lethal control that undermines conservation and public trust

Wolves belong in on the landscape we share. Coexistence is already happening. The only question is whether our state agencies and ranching groups will choose courage — or cling to fear.

Please add your name to stand for coexistence and stop the killing of wolves.

_______

Source

https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/choosing-coexistence-over-conflict-how-some-california-ranchers-are-adapting-to-wolves/