Conservation efforts have brought the gray wolf back from the edge of extinction. The focus is shifting now from saving the species to managing it -- and the threat it poses to livestock. Carter Evans reports.

California

Conservation initiatives have successfully brought gray wolves back from near extinction in California, with the population now estimated between 50 and 70. However, ranchers in regions such as Siskiyou County report significant losses of cattle attributed to wolf predation, with some claiming dozens of confirmed and suspected kills. 

The gray wolf is protected under both federal and state endangered species laws, making it illegal for ranchers to harm them. California has spent over $3 million compensating ranchers for confirmed wolf kills, but funding is now limited to confirmed cases only. The state is also exploring deterrence methods, such as wolf tracking maps and non-lethal deterrents, to help ranchers manage the growing wolf population.

California ranchers say protected wolves killing their livestock

Conservation efforts have brought back the gray wolf from the edge of extinction. The focus is shifting now from saving it to managing it and the threat to livestock. Carter Evans has tonight's Eye on America. On the California-Oregon border in the shadow of Mount Shasta. Because it is potentially a kill site, we will be kind of cautious. We joined Axel Honeycutt from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on the hunt for the gray wolf. So these are wolf tracks and they're huge. They're almost as big as my hands. Once nearly extinct in the U.S., wolves are making a big comeback in California. Trail cameras show wolf packs in Siskiyou County. They're healthy and well-fed, partly because these wolves... Like that's a lot of black cattle hair in there. Have developed a taste for beef. I mean this is easy pickings for them is what it is. Ranchers Jim and Mary Rickards say that in the last year, they've lost 16 cows to confirmed wolf attacks with 60 suspected kills. That is absolutely profits. It really eats into your herd, into your bottom line. It's hard for a lot of us to stay in business. The first gray wolf wandered back into California by accident in 2011. Wolves here soon became the most protected in the country, listed as endangered by both the federal and state government. What happens if you kill a wolf? Not good. Not good. Jail time. And so we are really defenseless. The state's population surged to 50 to 70 wolves in a decade. So California is now helping ranchers with a wolf tracking map and possibly allowing more aggressive deterrents like bean bag rounds. Essentially teaching the wolf a negative lesson. Yeah, they need a negative lesson in order to have that reinforcement. Rancher Janet Gliato says she's lost almost 50 animals. We've tried every deterrent that has ever been known or suggested. And had to hire a night watchman. We're probably paying about $70,000 to $100,000. California already spent more than $3 million compensating ranchers for their losses, and the money's running out. So now the state is only paying for confirmed wolf kills, not deterrents. The wolves, they're expensive. And if the state of California wants to sustain these sort of numbers, then it's going to be a costly project. Either for you or for them. Either way, and it should not be our job to feed the wolves. That's my ultimate hope. Patrick Griffin agrees. He investigates wolf attacks so ranchers can get paid. Wolves need tolerant people to survive. That's the bottom line. If there's no compensation, tolerance goes away over a period of time. It's a price California taxpayers may have to pay for the love of wolves. For Eye on America, I'm Carter Evans in Mount Shasta, California.

Russia pummeled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia's Vladimir Putin, officials said.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia hits Kyiv with largest drone attack after Trump-Putin call

U.S. President Donald Trump marked the passage of the new spending bill, which includes changes to food assistance, student loan programs, and clean energy credits. Robert Costa joins "CBS Mornings" to break down what's in the legislation.

Washington

Trump set to sign "big, beautiful bill"

More than 80 Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Thursday (July 3), according to health officials, as Israel intensified its strikes, hitting a school-turned-displacement facility. CNN’s Paula Hancocks looks at the damage and humanitarian toll.

Jerusalem

More than 80 people killed in Gaza in one day

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will do "anything" to advance EU accession talks. Zelenskyy spoke alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Ukraine will do 'anything' to advance EU accession talks: Zelenskyy

President Donald Trump said Washington will start sending letters to countries on Friday specifying what tariff rates they will face on imports to the United States, a clear shift from earlier pledges to strike scores of individual deals.

Global Tariffs

Trump: Letters telling countries their tariff rate going out Friday

Indonesian rescuers on Thursday (July 3) temporarily halted a search for 30 people still missing after a ferry carrying 65 people sank near the island of Bali with the loss of six lives, the national search and rescue agency said.

Gilimanuk

Indonesia suspends search for 30 missing after ferry sinks near Bali

After marathon debate sessions in the Senate and House, President Donald Trump’s budget bill passed in the House. Republicans secured the biggest win of Trump’s presidency.

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Florida says the first group of migrant detainees have arrived at the new immigration detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz." CBS News correspondent Shanelle Kaul has more.

Ochopee

First group of detainees arrive at "Alligator Alcatraz," Florida says

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday (July 3) that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he plans to hold a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. CBS News White House reporter Willie James Inman has more.

Trump speaks with Putin, plans call with Zelenskyy

CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez reports on a lawsuit from lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia alleging he suffered “torture and mistreatment” after he was wrongfully deported and held in El Salvador’s notorious mega prison.

Tecoluca

Kilmar Abrego Garcia claims he was tortured in El Salvadoran prison

The Kremlin welcomed the development, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov claiming it proves Western arsenals are being depleted and predicting that less aid will hasten the end of the conflict.

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Two contractors employed by UG Solutions spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity as they were revealing their employers’ internal operations.

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Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke for hours on the House floor about potential impacts of President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" that Republicans are looking to pass before July 4. Following debate, the House is set for a final vote on the massive budget bill.

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CBS News political contributor Caroline Polisi joins "CBS Mornings" to break down the jury's verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial and the judge's decision to deny bail for the music mogul ahead of his sentencing.

Manhattan

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Liverpool soccer player Diogo Jota has died aged 28, just weeks after marrying his childhood sweetheart. The footballer passed away in a car crash in northern Spain.

Madrid

Liverpool soccer player dies in car crash 10 days after wedding

The Pentagon said that U.S. strikes 10 days ago had degraded Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, suggesting the U.S. military operation likely achieved its goals despite a far more cautious initial assessment that leaked to the public.

Tehran

Iran Strikes

Iran nuclear program degraded by up to two years: Pentagon

Days before his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama announced the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit he founded, will have the sole authority to recognize his future reincarnation, but China insists it will choose the successor of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Lhasa

China rejects Dalai Lama’s succession plan

The U.S. Congress inched towards approving President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, despite attempts by Democrats to stop it. The bill is Trump’s signature legislation which includes massive spending increases on the military and immigration enforcement while slashing social programs.

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill nears approval

Sean (Diddy) Combs was found guilty on prostitution-related charges, but was acquitted on more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking giving him a maximum sentence of 20 years. But the courtroom victory was subdued following a judge’s ruling to deny him bail.

New York

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President Trump says Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, but it remains unclear if Hamas will accept the terms. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Debora Patta has more.

Trump says Israel has agreed to Gaza ceasefire conditions

Bryan Kohberger changed his plea to guilty Wednesday for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. CBS News national correspondent Carter Evans has more on the case.

Boise

New details revealed as Kohberger pleads guilty for 2022 Idaho murders

The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down a state abortion law that was adopted in 1849 in a 4-3 landmark decision. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul reports.

Madison

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Macron and Putin held regular discussions around the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Macron visiting Putin in Russia in February 2022, but dialogue eventually stalled.

Paris

Macron held 'substantial' phone call with Putin

President Trump toured “Alligator Alcatraz,” a migrant detention center he teamed up with Ron DeSantis to build in the Everglades.

Everglades

Protesters gather around ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as President Trump visits

Jurors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal criminal trial said they have reached a verdict on four of the five counts, but they cannot reach a verdict on Count 1, which is racketeering conspiracy. The judge has instructed the jury to keep deliberating. Deliberations will resume Wednesday (July 2).

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The U.S. Senate passed the Republicans' reconciliation bill on Tuesday (July 1) after more than 24 hours of marathon voting on amendments. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.

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The new order does not rescind existing sanctions on ousted longtime President Bashar al-Assad, his top aides, officials and family members who are accused of having committed war crimes and human rights violations against Syrian civilians.

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Former criminology graduate student Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to killing four Idaho college students in 2022, a move that would spare him the death penalty under a deal with prosecutors, ABC News reported on Monday (June 30).

Moscow

Suspect in murders of four Idaho college students to plead guilty

Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty pending a case seeking her dismissal, adding to mounting pressure on a government fighting for survival on multiple fronts.

Bangkok

Thai court suspends PM from duty pending case seeking her dismissal

Israeli strikes killed at least 60 people across Gaza on June 30 in some of the heaviest attacks in weeks as Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by U.S. President Donald Trump.