UPDATED Thursday evening, Dec. 14, 2023.
By Shannon Lukens (Warning, some pictures are graphic)
Here is the response from Travis Duncan with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
On the morning of December 13, CPW received a report of a possible depredation incident after a rancher in northeast Jackson County reported his young calf had suffered injuries. A CPW wildlife officer responded and conducted a field investigation.
“The results of this investigation indicated wounds consistent with wolf depredation,” said CPW Area Wildlife Manager Kris Middledorf. “The field investigation found the calf had multiple rake marks, bite marks and a hemorrhage on the left leg. A partial wolf track was also found nearby.”
The rancher will be eligible for veterinary compensation (up to $15,000) if a claim is submitted. If the cow is euthanized or dies due to its injuries, the rancher will also be compensated for the animal’s fair market value up to $15,000. 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 may provide conflict minimization materials under its Gray Wolf Compensation and Conflict Minimization Program.
There is no press release on the incident.
Does this qualify the Jackson County wolves as chronic depredators?
Discussions about whether the two collared wolves with territory that includes Jackson County would fit the definition of “chronically depredating” have not yet occurred.
If so, what action (10J Rule) will be taken against this wolf (or two wolves) and when will that happen and what will be done and who will do it?
See above. Page 27 of the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan defines what would be required to make the determination. There is not a specific definition of a “chronically depredating” pack or wolf. CPW program managers along with USFWS will make the determination as to whether a situation is characterized as chronic depredation on a case-by-case basis. A full evaluation of the circumstances will include considerations such as: 1) documented repeated depredation and harassment in a limited geography caused by the wolf or pack targeted; 2) previously implemented practices to reduce depredation; 3) likelihood that additional and continued wolf related mortality would continue if control is or is not implemented; and 4) unintentional or intentional use of attractants that may be luring or baiting wolves to the location.
Jackson County rancher Don Gittleson says he’s had another wolf attack of a calf on his property Wednesday.
“Early in the morning, a wolf came in and injured one of the heifers pretty seriously. And I found her when we started feeding things.”
Gittleson said the worst of the injuries were in her hindquarters, with some bite marks around her neck. He gave the calf antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine to help with swelling and the pain. He is hoping she can be saved and doesn’t have to be put down.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife came out to his ranch this morning to do an investigation, and we have asked CPW for official confirmation of the latest wolf depredation on the Gittleson property, where at least seven head of cattle have been killed or injured in the past two years.
There are two known wolves in Jackson County. One is a gray male, and the other is his black male offspring.
CPW has confirmed that the wolves in Jackson County have killed three dogs, three lambs, and multiple head of cattle and calves.
The question is whether CPW would consider this Chronic Depredation of livestock, which means CPW could now use lethal management for these wolves. It’s known as the 10(J) rule, which went into effect Dec. 8. (Nov. 7, 2023) U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SETS DATE FOR 10J RULE FOR WOLVES
Don Gittleson has made the request to CPW that the 10(J) Rule be implemented, now that he has had another attack on his ranch.
“I also requested that that wolf be removed because he has caused more than enough grief up here. And with the 10(J) Rule now, I feel this wolf has more than met the criteria for this the last couple years, by killing dogs and cattle. Both of them have been involved in a couple instances this year already. So even if you forgave their past behavior, they’ve done enough this year that they need to be put down.”
We have asked Colorado Parks and Wildlife if the 10(J) Rule will now be used on the wolves in Jackson County, after they have attacked livestock in there again. And if so, when it will happen.
We are waiting to hear back.
Video of injured calf with Don Gittleson
Past Coverage
On Nov. 17, 2023, Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed three dead lambs in Jackson County. “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.”
THREE LAMBS KILLED BY A WOLF IN JACKSON COUNTY, SAYS RANCHER
The ranchers can be reimbursed for damages caused by Gray Wolves to livestock defined in C.R.S. 33-2-105.8.
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. (on Nov. 19, 2023)
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.
Past Steamboat Radio News Coverage, from most recent to oldest
- Nov. 19, 2023 — THREE LAMBS KILLED BY A WOLF IN JACKSON COUNTY, SAYS RANCHER
- 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 – 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
- March 15, 2023 – TWO DOGS DIE FROM WOLVES IN JACKSON COUNTY THIS WEEK
- March 3, 2023 –COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION RELEASES WOLF REINTRODUCTION MEETING RECAP
- 21, 2023 – WOLF 2101 RECAPTURED AND RECOLLARED IN JACKSON COUNTY
- 21, 2023 – 10J RULE MEETINGS WITH REGARDS TO WOLVES SCHEDULED FOR NW COLORADO BY US FISH AND WILDLIFE
- 3, 2023 – TWO WOLVES ARE CAPTURED AND COLLARED IN JACKSON COUNTY THURSDAY
- 17, 2023 – STATE LEGISLATORS HEAR MORE ON WOLF REINTRODUCTION AT JOINT COMMITTEE HEARING
- 13, 2022 – MORE WOLVES VISIT GITTLESON PROPERTY IN JACKSON COUNTY THIS WEEK
- 12, 2022 –NORTH PARK RANCHERS MEET WITH CPW REGARDING WOLF REINTRODUCTION PLAN
- 10, 2022 –CPW RELEASES DRAFT COLORADO WOLF RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
- 19, 2022 –ANOTHER WOLF ATTACK REPORTED IN JACKSON COUNTY
- 9, 2022 – WOLVES ATTACK CALVES IN RIO BLANCO AND JACKSON COUNTIES
- July 14, 2022 – CPW UPDATES THE WOLF PACK IN JACKSON COUNTY
- June 20, 2022 – WOLF MANAGEMENT DISCUSSED AT MEETING IN WALDEN
- June 15, 2022 – WOLVES IN NORTH PARK ARE SUBJECT AT MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 20
- May 30, 2022 – THE GITTLESON RANCH LOSES ANOTHER CALF TO WOLVES, THEY SAY
- May 5, 2022 –AT LEAST TWO MORE CALVES KILLED BY WOLVES ON GITTLESON RANCH
- March 17, 2022 – WOLVES ATTACK ANOTHER DOMESTIC COW IN JACKSON COUNTY
- 10, 2022 – MONTANA STOCKGROWERS VOICE SUPPORT FOR COLORADO RANCHERS OVER THE WOLVES
- 9, 2022 – WOLF MANAGEMENT DISCUSSED BY LOCAL RANCHERS AND OFFICIALS AT FORUM IN STEAMBOAT
- 22, 2022 – WOLF MITIGATION OPTIONS
- 19, 2022 – ANOTHER COW KILLED OVERNIGHT IN NORTH PARK BY WOLVES
- 18, 2022 – TWO MORE COWS ATTACKED BY WOLVES IN JACKSON COUNTY TUESDAY
- 12, 2022 – CPW ALLOWS WOLVES TO BE HAZED IN EMERGENCY DECLARATION
- 10, 2022 – A WOLF PACK KILL IS REPORTED IN JACKSON COUNTY OVER THE WEEKEND
- June 9, 2021 – WOLF DEN WITH PUPS CONFIRMED IN NW COLORADO