By Shannon Lukens.
A calf just a few hours old was killed by a wolf or wolves in Grand County Tuesday morning. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the calf had tooth rake marks on its body, consistent with wolf depredation. Wolf tracks were also in the area.
Grand County Commissioner Merrit Linke has spoken to the producer of the property, who does not want his name or location released. He said the calf had just been born. She wasn’t eaten, possibly because of a protective mom.
“She must have raised hell but maybe she did later because they didn’t eat the calf. That’s what he told me. There were bite marks on the back, on the back legs and obviously enough to kill it but they didn’t eat it. But I don’t know if they heard him coming or it was right before he got there, or whatever. Probably not because the calf had time to suck.”
Linke says it is 106 days since the first wolves were released in Colorado, to the first livestock kill. The concern for local ranchers now is that it is calving season.
Another question is which wolves did it? Colorado Parks and Wildlife has now confirmed that “The wolf or wolves involved were part of the 10 wolves that were reintroduced to Colorado in December 2023.” They were not the two in Jackson County that are responsible for killing at least 20 cattle, sheep, and dogs. The two that killed the calf in Grand County will be watched to make sure they don’t become chronic depredators, which are wolves or animals that repeatedly kill livestock. They are allowed to be killed, with approval from CPW.
More on the Story — A WOLF OR WOLVES HAVE KILLED A NEWBORN CALF IN GRAND COUNTY
CPW and the Department of Agriculture provided information to the state legislature today about range riders and some budget proposals that would help ranchers and livestock owners. They hope to get on-the-ground assistance to those ranchers that have confirmed wolves on their property with range riders in the next two weeks. The range riders help detect wolves and deploy non-lethal deterrents so livestock isn’t killed.
Be aware of two to three moose that have been spotted on Butcherknife Trail and in Old Town Steamboat Springs. They were very close to Soda Creek Elementary Wednesday morning, right when kids were headed to school.
Hayden Town Council meets at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Agenda items include proclamations for Month of the Young Child, Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Month of Autism Acceptance in Hayden.
Steamboat Dance Theatre presents “The Road Less Traveled.” It starts tonight and runs through Saturday. Over 200 community members are performing in the show. Money is raised to support Steamboat Dance Theatre and their mission to engage, educate, and enrich the communities of the Yampa Valley through dance and movement. Ticket information
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
For the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline, call 970-824-1918.