Wildlife Experts Criticize UC Davis Over Misleading Article on Wolf Impacts

A group of leading wildlife scientists and wolf biologists is calling on UC Davis to correct what they say is a misleading article about California’s recovering wolf population.

The controversy centers on a UC Davis article that reported preliminary findings from an unpublished study suggesting wolves can cause major economic losses for cattle ranchers. The article, which has not undergone peer review, sparked widespread media coverage treating the unvetted findings as fact.

“It’s extremely worrying to me that these preliminary findings on California’s recovering wolves were presented as fact before the study has even been vetted,” said Amaroq Weiss of the Center for Biological Diversity.

Experts say the article oversimplifies a complex issue and blames wolves for economic losses without accounting for other significant factors like drought, weather, cattle management, or predator presence.

“In my 30-plus years’ experience in the field, wolves don’t just spend all their time hanging out in and chasing herds of cattle,” said Carter Niemeyer, a retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wolf recovery coordinator.

The scientists also point out that the article failed to consider wolves’ positive economic contributions through ecotourism and ecosystem health, which have been documented in other peer-reviewed studies.

They are urging UC Davis to clarify that the study is preliminary, not yet peer-reviewed, and not broadly representative of wolf impacts across California. They also recommend greater transparency from the university when publicizing early research findings.