Our Mission
The California Wolf Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization established to promote conservation of gray wolves and other native species by reducing conflict with agricultural producers, promoting preservation or restoration of habitats in California, and supporting research and education.
Photo by Bridger Peaks Photography
Conflict Reduction
Providing depredation compensation and promoting stockmanship and humane deterrents to avoid, minimize, and mitigate conflicts with agricultural producers.
Preservation
Promoting habitat preservation, connectivity, restoration, and sustainable management of shared working landscapes.
Education
Funding research and education through grants and scholarships.
Our Purpose
Gray wolves have returned to California for the first time in almost 100 years. In 2011, a global positioning system (GPS) collared wolf (OR-7) dispersed to California temporarily from Oregon’s Imnaha pack. In the past ten years, wolves have successfully established in California and as of 2025 the California wolf population has increased to include 12 known packs in 10 counties (Siskiyou, Shasta, Lassen, Plumas, Nevada, Modoc, Sierra, Trinity, Tehama and Tulare) as well as other dispersing individuals in Mono and Inyo Counties. As the population of wolves increases in California, conflicts between wolves and livestock producers are likely to increase. Direct depredation losses and increases in operational costs as well as the potential indirect impacts (reduced weight gain, reduced reproductive success, and increased management costs) can produce significant economic losses to ranchers, and can at times be severe locally.
The California Wolf Foundation promotes wolf conservation through support of humane management practices to reduce conflict, provides funding to offset direct financial losses caused by wolf activity, and provides support for research, education, and habitat preservation in California.
News and Events
Free Protective Collars for Livestock Guardian Dogs
California Wolf Foundation is now taking applications for livestock producers in California wolf country that currently utilize livestock guardian dogs in their operations to receive up to two FREE custom protective (spiked*) collars for their LGDs. 🐕🐕🐕🐕🐑🐑🐄🐄
Though these collars will not eliminate the risk of injury or death from encounters with apex predators, they are critical for the safety of LGDs working in wolf and mountain lion country. We are pleased to be partnering with the designer of these collars, Emsoff Livestock Company, to offer an upgraded version of the collar that their LGD pack have been wearing for the past seven years. The collar itself is made by expert leatherworker, Denise Hochstrat VonTour, from heavy 2″ wide harness leather, stitched and riveted. The upgraded spikes are made from 1/16″ stainless steel securely attached with copper rivets. Each collar is custom made to order to perfectly fit your dog. Unlike other available options that lack spikes in the buckle area, leaving the throat unprotected, this collar design has spikes the entire length, protecting the dog’s neck all the way around.
If you would like to receive a free collar, please confirm your eligibility and submit the required sizing and shipping information in the form below. Stock is limited and applications will be evaluated in the order received.
https://forms.gle/wqQqAAyTpiPawrLC6
🐺 If you support wildlife coexistence, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our 100% volunteer-run foundation so we can continue to offer tools and resources to reduce wolf-livestock conflicts.
*NOTE, the spikes are NOT blades. They do not slice or cut. The edges are not sharp and the points are ground down slightly. The Emsoff dogs have been wearing these collars for the past seven years and they have never had a dog or livestock injured by them. They simply make it much more difficult for a predator to get ahold of the dog’s neck. They are only to be used on mature working dogs (never puppies).
Fundraising for Innovative Conflict Solutions
We’re excited to support some innovative research on early warning wolf detection/real-time motion-activated camera system with AI imagery software that can alert a rancher if the system captures a photo of a wolf.
Ian is a master’s student at Colorado State University that is committed to finding solutions to rancher-wolf conflicts in Northern California. His career background includes working for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, more recently as a human-wildlife conflict specialist in Northern California from 2022 to 2024, where some of his duties involved working with ranchers to reduce wolf-related issues. This led Ian to recognize there is a drastic need for new strategies in California to mitigate wolf conflict.
“After the state cut our program and let me loose, I knew it was time to go back to school and work to find solutions to this issue, I think we owe it to the ranchers and the wolves of California.” – Ian R Keith
By updating and testing existing tools and techniques, and incorporating automative technology, Ian believes solutions can be found through adaptive management with ranchers and wolves. His advisor, Anthony J. Giordano, has extensive experience working in the field of human-wildlife conflict with ranchers in South America, as well as communities experiencing conflict in Northeastern India with tigers, snow leopards, and elephants.
“My experience working for the state led me to find amazing, hard-working folks that deeply care for wildlife and their ranch land but are overworked and are desperate to find solutions. Ranchers are not the bad guys/gals in this situation; they can and should be part of the solution. We all could learn a lot from these folks.” – Ian R Keith
We are asking you to join us in helping Ian meet his fundraising goal to purchase the tools and equipment needed for this vital research. Ranchers in Siskiyou County are facing increased pressure from wolf-livestock predation making the need for new technologies and approaches urgent. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support this research! Since we are run by volunteers, 100% of every dollar donated will go directly to this project.
You can give at the campaign link below, or we can accept Venmo (@CaliforniaWolfFoundation), PayPal (CAWolfFound), and credit card donations through our website in addition to social media based donations and tax smart donor advised funds.
https://givebutter.com/early-warningwolf-detection-research-k3egb4
Community Events
June 13, 2026 – Martinez Beaver Festival
We’re bringing wolves to the Beaver Festival (just kidding). 🔥🐺 But we will be out at the Martinez Beaver Festival on June 13, 2026!
This festival brings together conservation groups, live music, and nature education from across the Bay Area, all celebrating the power of wildlife to shape healthy ecosystems.
🗓 June 13, 2026
📍 Susana Park, Martinez
⏰ 10 AM – 3 PM
Whether you love beavers, wolves, or just believe in protecting wild California—come say hi. 💙 Visit the Martinez Beavers website for more details!
https://martinezbeavers.org/2026-beaver-festival
October 17, 2026 – Wolf Awareness Day
Save the date! We’ll be welcomed back to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom on Saturday October 17 to celebrate Wolf Awareness Day! Stay tuned for details!
Livestock Loss Compensation
We have launched our livestock loss compensation program and are now accepting applications for grants to offset wolf-caused livestock mortalities and injuries that occurred within California prior to September 23, 2021 or between March 2024 and July 1, 2024. If you have experienced livestock losses from wolf predation, we encourage you to apply to participate in our livestock loss program. For losses occurring after September 23, 2021 (but not between March-July 2024), producers can request reimbursement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Gray-Wolf/Grants
Bookmark Campaign
California Wolf Foundation has wolf bookmarks available to ignite the spirit of wildlife conservation in the next generation. If you are a librarian or work for a school in California and would like to request a box of FREE bookmarks to distribute to students, please reach out via email (below).
We are a charitable organization operated by volunteers. 100% of the proceeds from your donation or t-shirt purchase will directly support our mission.
Please visit our t-shirt shop where you can choose from 3 different styles with multiple product and color options!
https://www.bonfire.com/store/california-wolf-foundation/
We accept PayPal donations at PayPal.Me/CAWolfFound and Venmo donations @CaliforniaWolfFoundation
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Your contribution is appreciated and is tax deductible!
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Get In Touch
californiawolffoundation(at)gmail(dot)com
More ways to Donate
We are happy to accept tax-smart grants from Donor Advised funds or Qualified Charitable Distributions. Additionally, if you would like to make a donation by check, please send payable to California Wolf Foundation, 3031 Stanford Ranch Rd 2-337, Rocklin, CA 95765
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The California Wolf Foundation is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation classified as a tax exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to our organization are tax deductible (EIN 87-3467885).