Wolves Killing Colorado Livestock Even Before Formal Reintroduction

On the morning of Dec. 19, a rancher in Jackson County, Colorado, found a dead domestic calf surrounded by very large dog tracks. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department responded and conducted a field investigation, including a necropsy on the carcass to look for evidence of attack wounds.

“The results of this investigation indicated wolf tracks in the immediate vicinity of the carcass and wounds on the calf consistent with wolf depredation,” CPW Area Wildlife Manager Kris Middledorf said in apress release. This is the first such instance in the modern era, happening in advance of a plan to “reintroduce” wolves to the state.

In November of 2020, Colorado voters passed the ballot initiative Proposition 114, which requires the CPW Commission to create and carry out a plan to reintroduce and manage gray wolves by the end of 2023. The measure ensures that the commission will distribute state funds for "fair compensation to owners of livestock for any losses of livestock caused by gray wolves."

Because the state has yet to decide how to handle livestock depredation by wolves, this calf will be processed as if a bear or mountain lion killed it.

“CPW is working on draft regulations for the commission’s consideration on hazing for these naturally migrating wolves in the state.” CPW Director Dan Prenzlow said. “Our goal is to provide producers with resources to minimize the likelihood of conflict or depredation as we work to create a statewide wolf restoration and management program as directed under Proposition 114.”

This past spring, Colorado became host to a litter of wolf pups—the first seen in the Centennial State since the 1940s. Not coincidentally, these pups were spotted near aden located in Jackson County.

Jackson County abuts the Wyoming border in north-central Colorado and is one of many rural counties that opposed the ballot measure. While the densely populated front range urban area is responsible for the majority of votes in favor of the proposition, the reintroduction will more significantly impact rural regions with high populations of livestock and elk.

Map via KDVR depicting how Colorado voted for Prop 114 by county.

CPW is still in thepublic engagement processof establishing how and where to release wolves by holding frequent public meetings and utilizing both atechnical working groupand astakeholder advisory group.

MeatEater's own Brody Henderson has previously reported on thenatural incursion of gray wolves into Colorado.

"Here we are a couple years later with the first wolf predation of domesticated livestock in the state in 70 years," Henderson said. "Keep in mind, these wolves moved into Colorado and set up shop all on their own. At this point, what’s the point of wasting time, money, and resources reintroducing more gray wolves when CPW is going to have their hands full managing the wolves that are already there?"

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