Stories from California Cattle Country takes listeners to some of the most beautiful parts of this diverse state to learn more about the people and practices of ranches and dairies. Follow our host, Ryan as he darts around the state meeting cattle ranchers and dairy farmers learning about the animals and land they care for everyday. This podcast is produced by the California Cattlemen’s Foundation with support from the California Cattle Council. To listen now, search “Stories from California Cattle Country” on your preferred platform for streaming podcast episodes or click on one of the following links to go straight to it : Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

On September 15, 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that it will initiate a comprehensive status review of the gray wolf in the western U.S. after completing an initial review of two petitions filed to list gray wolves in the western U.S. as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Both petitions propose some alternative Western U.S. Distinct Population Segment (DPS) to include all, or part, of the Northern Rocky Mountain Distinct Population Segment states with the addition of California among other western states.

Additionally, on September 28, 2021, USFWS announced that it had completed an initial review on a petition to list the American Bumblebee and that a listing may be warranted. The American bumble bee is a large yellow and black insect found across most of the continental U.S. and in some areas of Canada and Mexico and is a common visitor to backyards, farms, and wild landscapes alike. USFWS has stated that the species is potentially threatened by disease, habitat destruction, livestock grazing, pesticide use, loss of genetic diversity, climate change and competition from non-native honeybees. The bee’s range includes 35 states.

The above actions are not listing decisions. Next, USFWS will conduct 12-month status reviews to determine next steps.