Three lambs killed by a wolf in Jackson County, says rancher

November 19, 2023 Shannon Lukens

By Shannon Lukens. (WARNING – PICTURES ARE GRAPHIC.) Photos courtesy Brian Anderson.

UPDATE on TUESDAY, NOV. 21, from Travis Duncan with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

On the morning of November 17, CPW received a report of a possible depredation incident after a rancher found three dead lambs on his property in southern Jackson County. A CPW wildlife officer responded and conducted a field investigation.

“The results of this investigation indicated wounds on the carcasses consistent with wolf depredation,” said CPW Area Wildlife Manager Kris Middledorf. “The field investigation found signs of hemorrhaging, indicating the attack occurred while the animals were still alive and the carcasses were not scavenged.”

CPW provides reimbursement for damages caused by gray wolves to livestock defined in C.R.S. 33-2-105.8 and animals used for guard/herding purposes and provides conflict minimization materials under its Gray Wolf Compensation and Conflict Minimization Program.

Three more head of livestock have been killed by a wolf in Jackson County. This time it’s three sheep owned by rancher Brian Anderson. He discovered them in his field on the ranch Friday morning, Nov. 17.

“We went out there and found some sheep that were not alive.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers came out and did necropsies on the dead sheep. Anderson says they found canine marks and confirmed to him that a wolf was in the area from the GPS collar on the wolf and that it was wolf depredation. We have also reached out to CPW for confirmation.

“Nobody likes to lose livestock but it’s the game that we have to prepare for with the reintroduction.”

Colorado residents voted by a slim margin to reintroduce wolves to Colorado, which is set to happen by the end of this year.

Anderson will apply to get compensated for the loss from the state.

“I’m not saying that I’m happy about it and I’m not saying that I’m blistering mad about it either because we all knew that it was coming. It wasn’t a matter of when or if. It was a matter of how many and when it was going to happen.”

As far as compensation, Miles Blumhardt with the Coloradoan out of Fort Collins has an update on Fiscal Year Compensation for wolf depredation that he has shared with Steamboat Radio News.

FY22 Claims

Two dogs – $1,252.75
One calf heifer – $1,800
Three cattle – $8,647
Two cattle – $1,230

FY22 total: $12,929.75

FY23 Claims

One calf – $338.62
One heifer – $1,106.09
One bull calf – $2,850
One bull calf – $3,000
One bull calf – $400
One bull calf – $3,000
One dog (border collie) – $15,000
One calf – $779.52

FY23 total: $26,474.23

How many total claims were made?

In FY22, compensation costs amounted to $12,929.75 in settlement of four wolf damage claims.
In FY23, compensation costs amounted to $26,474.23 in settlement of eight wolf damage claims.
In FY24, there have been no wolf damage claims.

The Anderson Ranch is in the middle of Jackson County.

Also, the 10J rule is set to go into effect Dec. 8, which would allow lethal management for ranchers and landowners, if a wolf is attacking their livestock or pets.

Past Steamboat Radio News Coverage, from most recent to oldest

Nov. 17, 2023 – CPW AND CDA ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO WORK TOGETHER ON WOLF REINTRODUCTION

Nov. 7, 2023 – U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SETS DATE FOR 10J RULE FOR WOLVES

Oct. 6, 2023 – COLORADO WILL RECEIVE WOLVES FROM OREGON

May 16, 2023 – GOV. POLIS VETOES 10J RULE WOLF BILL

May 3, 2023 – CPW COMMISSION APPROVES FINAL WOLF RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN

May 2, 2023 – MANAGEMENT OF GRAY WOLVES REINTRODUCTION BILL PASSES IN STATE HOUSE

May 2, 2023 – CPW MEETS THIS WEEK FOR FINAL WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN

April 27, 2023 – CPW CONFIRMS WOLF SIGHTING EAST OF KREMMLING

April 8, 2023 – CPW WOLF COMMISSION MEETS IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

April 3, 2023 – CPW TO PRESENT FINAL DRAFT WOLF RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

March 28, 2023 – THE SOUTHERN UTE TRIBE ASKS THAT CPW RELEASES WOLVES ALONG I-70 CORRIDOR