In recent months, the Sierra Nevada mountains have witnessed a troubling uptick in livestock deaths, all attributed to the activities of wild gray wolves. This situation has forced California wildlife officials to take the drastic measure of eliminating some of these wolves, as announced on Friday.

“This decision was not made lightly nor was it easy,” expressed Charlton H. Bonham, director of California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), emphasizing the gravity of the situation in a Friday statement.