Four more head of livestock killed by wolves in Grand County

April 18, 2024 Shannon Lukens

By Shannon Lukens. WARNING: Graphic pictures and images. UPDATED AT 2:54 p.m. UPDATED AT 2:20 p.m.

A wolf (or wolves) has killed four more head of livestock in Grand County. That’s according to Grand County Commissioner Merrit Linke this morning, and confirmed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife this afternoon. Three yearlings were killed Monday night or early Tuesday morning, and another was killed Wednesday night. That’s four more animals killed by wolves.

Press release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife; April 18, 2024, from Travis Duncan, Public Information Supervisor for CPW.

On the morning of Wednesday, April 17, CPW received a report of a possible depredation incident in Grand County. CPW wildlife officers and a biologist responded and conducted a field investigation.

The field investigation found injuries consistent with wolf depredation on three deceased yearling (an animal that is a year old) cattle. CPW believes the depredation occurred between Monday night and Tuesday morning, when a storm brought a foot of snow to the area covering up the carcasses and delaying their discovery until Wednesday.

The following morning on Thursday, April 18, CPW received a report of a possible fourth depredation incident at the same property. A CPW wildlife officer responded, conducted a field investigation, and found evidence confirming this to be a wolf-livestock depredation.

The field investigation found injuries on one dead yearling cattle consistent with wolf depredation, including hemorrhaging and partially consumed hindquarters.
CPW provides reimbursement for damages caused by gray wolves to livestock and livestock guard/herding animals as set forth in C.R.S. 33-2-105.8 and provides conflict minimization materials to livestock producers in affected areas under its Gray Wolf Compensation and Conflict Minimization Program.

The wolf or wolves that were in the area at the time of the depredation were part of the 10 wolves that were reintroduced to Colorado in December 2023.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture and CPW are finalizing a range rider plan to assist livestock producers to deter wolf and livestock conflict. Communication between CPW, CDA and livestock producers is a top priority during calving season. Livestock producers who submit a claim may be eligible for the fair market value of livestock lost to wolf depredation.

Grand County Commissioner Merrit Linke spoke at the Wolf Information Meeting with CPW in Kremmling on April 9.

Linke says the most recent kills were in the same area of Middle Park in Grand County as the newborn calf that was killed April 2, but it was a different property. When Colorado Parks and Wildlife sent a press release on that kill, it said, “CPW staff will continue contacting producers in the area, and encouraging the use of appropriate non-lethal deterrents available through the agency.”

Linke says he has been on the phone this morning with members of the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association and local producers, two of which are directly involved.

“And we’ve word-smithed a letter that we’re going to send to CPW and CPW leadership, asking for them to take action like ASAP, because in our opinion, well, it’s more than that, to simply say that this is a clear case of chronic depredation.”

Here is that letter. It has been copied to Governor Jared Polis, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis, Colorado Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Gibbs, and commission members.

Confirming the kills as chronic depredation would mean that the wolf or wolves involved in the repeated killings of livestock could be killed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, according to the 10(J) Rule. But CPW has not yet defined chronic depredation for Colorado, meaning how many head of livestock have to be killed by a wolf to classify a wolf as a chronic depredator. That is what is frustrating Linke and local producers.

“This is five animals killed in 16 days in three separate depredating events and it literally started 106 days after the release. and Rachel Gabel will confirm this too (from Fence Post magazine). How many of these animals came from known depredating packs which was clearly against the recommendations from the technical working group and the stakeholder group plan that was submitted and adopted by the Wildlife Commission.”

CPW confirmed at the recent Wolf Informational Meeting in Kremmling that the wolf that killed that newborn calf on April 2 was one of the wolves that was brought into Colorado from Oregon as part of the state’s voter mandated reintroduction of wolves.

April 3, 2024 — A WOLF OR WOLVES HAVE KILLED A NEWBORN CALF IN GRAND COUNTY

Courtesy photo of calf killed on April 7 in Jackson County.

Another calf was killed in Jackson County April 7, but that was a different wolf. Steamboat Radio News has been told by Lee Meyring, the veterinarian for the rancher, that the heart and lungs were gone. The wolves dragged the calf away from the cow herd first.

Steamboat Radio News has also been told by multiple sources about an attack on a calf near Rand in Jackson County Saturday night. The calf lived and is being treated. Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed the attack in an email on Thursday afternoon, April 18, from Travis Duncan, Public Information Supervisor for CPW.

“On the evening of Saturday, April 13, CPW received a report of a possible depredation incident in Jackson County. A CPW wildlife officer responded and conducted a field investigation. The field investigation found injuries on a calf consistent with wolf depredation and wolf tracks in the area.”

“The livestock producer could be eligible for reimbursement for veterinary expenses if a claim is submitted. 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 to livestock producers in affected areas under its Gray Wolf Compensation and Conflict Minimization Program.”

“As stated in previous responses, CPW will not provide any location information on Colorado’s wolves outside of the map releases on the fourth Wednesday of every month. CPW encourages anyone who believes they have seen a wolf to fill out the wolf sighting form found on our website. In addition to the wolf sighting form, members of the public can also find information on living and recreating in areas where wolves live.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Wolf Sighting Form

The following pictures were included in the letter from Middle Park Stockgrowers Association to CPW officials and Gov. Polis.

Steamboat Radio News Past Coverage of wolves in Colorado

April 9, 2024 — AG PRODUCERS MEET WITH CPW OFFICIALS IN KREMMLING ABOUT WOLVES
April 8, 2024 — ANOTHER CALF KILLED BY A WOLF OR WOLVES IN JACKSON COUNTY
April 3, 2024 — A WOLF OR WOLVES HAVE KILLED A NEWBORN CALF IN GRAND COUNTY
April 3, 2024 — Denver 7 Calf killed in first confirmed report of gray wolf depredation since wolves were released in December
Feb. 29, 2024 — COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE OFFICIALS COME TO STEAMBOAT SPRINGS TO TALK WOLVES
Jan. 30, 2024 — CPW SENDS UPDATE ON WOLF SIGHTINGS SINCE 2004, AND MORE ON THE MAP
Jan. 24, 2024 — ELECTED OFFICIALS GRILL DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CPW AT HEARING WEDNESDAY
Jan. 22, 2024 — CPW GETS HARSH LETTER DEMANDING ANSWERS FROM ROBERTS AND MCCLUSKIE
Jan. 19, 2024 — COLORADO’S NEXT WOLVES TO BE REINTRODUCED WILL BE FROM TRIBAL LANDS IN WASHINGTON
Jan. 12, 2024 — CPW CONFIRMS WOLVES WERE IN SOUTH ROUTT BUT AREN’T (YET) IN MOFFAT
Dec. 22, 2023 — FIVE MORE WOLVES ARE RELEASED BY COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE
Dec. 22, 2023 — CPW DENIES GITTLESON’S REQUEST TO IMPLEMENT 10(J) RULE ON JACKSON COUNTY WOLVES
Dec. 21, 2023 — THREE OF THE FIVE WOLVES RELEASED IN COLORADO WERE IN PACKS THAT KILLED OR INJURED LIVESTOCK IN OREGON
Dec. 19, 2023 — LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS RECEIVE WOLF UPDATE FROM CPW IN CRAIG MONDAY
Dec. 13, 2023 — GITTLESON SAYS ANOTHER CALF WAS ATTACKED BY A WOLF TODAY
Dec. 11, 2023 — COMPLAINT FILED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT TO STOP WOLF REINTRODUCTION IN COLORADO
Dec. 4, 2023 — KEEP YOUR PETS CLOSE AND CARRY A BIG STICK – CPW HAS ADVICE FOR LIVING WITH WOLVES
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
Feb. 10, 2022 – MONTANA STOCKGROWERS VOICE SUPPORT FOR COLORADO RANCHERS OVER THE WOLVES
Feb. 9, 2022 – WOLF MANAGEMENT DISCUSSED BY LOCAL RANCHERS AND OFFICIALS AT FORUM IN STEAMBOAT
Jan. 22, 2022 – WOLF MITIGATION OPTIONS
Jan. 19, 2022 – ANOTHER COW KILLED OVERNIGHT IN NORTH PARK BY WOLVES
Jan. 18, 2022 – TWO MORE COWS ATTACKED BY WOLVES IN JACKSON COUNTY TUESDAY
Jan. 12, 2022 – CPW ALLOWS WOLVES TO BE HAZED IN EMERGENCY DECLARATION
Jan. 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