By Shannon Lukens. 

Range Riders are headed to Grand County to help ranchers there with keeping wolves away from and killing their livestock. Range Riders are boots-on-the-ground support to livestock producers to help protect herds from wolves.

In a press release today from the Department of Agriculture, it says they’re working with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Middle Park Stockgrowers to get on-the-ground assistance to the area that has been most impacted by recent wolf depredations. Five yearlings and a newborn calf have been killed in Grand County in April.

 

Courtesy photo of calf killed in Grand County April 28, 2024.

 

Up to $20,000 will be used for nighttime patrols and for protection from Range Riders.

In that press release, CPW Director Jeff Davis said, “Collaboration is key when addressing the complexities of wildlife management. By partnering with the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association, CPW and CDA are providing immediate support while also investing in long-term solutions through education and funding for non-lethal deterrents. Together, we’re working to protect both our ranching community and Colorado’s wildlife.”

 

Press release from Colorado Department of Agriculture; April 30, 2024.

Middle Park Stockgrowers Receive Funding for Range Rider, Other Non-Lethal Deterrents

Broomfield, Colo. — The Department of Agriculture (CDA) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) have partnered with the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association to get on-the-ground assistance to an area impacted by recent wolf depredation.

“CPW and CDA have worked with the community in Grand County to understand what kind of support they need and will find useful,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. “This funding will help Grand County producers during calving season, an especially vulnerable time for beef producers. Meanwhile, funding was just approved in the state budget for CDA’s new program to help ranchers in areas with wolves and other predators implement non-lethal conflict reduction methods that are successful in other states. We will do this hand-in-glove with our partners at CPW.”

Through constructive discussions with the community and an agreement with the stakeholders, CDA is dedicating up to $20,000 to the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association to use toward non-lethal deterrents that include nighttime patrols and herd protection, such as hiring range riders. All resources will be purchased and contracted through the Middle Park Stockgrowers.

“Middle Park ranchers have long dealt with predators, but this is a new situation for our community. We’re thankful for the partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Colorado Parks and Wildlife which will let us bring in additional help to protect our animals,” said Tim Ritschard, President of the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association.

In addition to this short-term measure, both CPW and CDA are expanding their permanent Wolf Conflict Mitigation programs to support producers implementing non-lethal predator control measures. Funding for these programs was included in the 2024 Long Bill, recently passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor.

“Collaboration is key when addressing the complexities of wildlife management,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis. “By partnering with the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association, CPW and CDA are providing immediate support while also investing in long-term solutions through education and funding for non-lethal deterrents. Together, we’re working to protect both our ranching community and Colorado’s wildlife.”

Through a Memorandum of Understanding, CDA is working closely with CPW to anticipate and prepare for predator and livestock incidents. This includes help and education around non-lethal deterrence methods, such as range riders or the use of fladry.

Additionally, livestock producers who are affected by depredations and submit a claim may be eligible for the fair market value of livestock lost to wolf depredation. A dedicated Wolf Depredation Compensation cash fund has $175,000, provided from the state’s General Fund, in its balance and will receive $350,000 additional General Funds per fiscal year to keep a healthy balance in the fund on an ongoing basis.

With spring being a demanding time for ranchers, who are busy welcoming new calves into the world, the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association is asking members of the media to send all media requests via email to mpstockgrowers@gmail.com.

PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA 
30 de abril de 2024
Contacto: Olga Robak, 720-428-0441, olga.robak@state.co.us

Ganaderos de Middle Park reciben financiamiento para Patrulleros a Caballo y otras fuerzas disuasorias no letales

BROOMFIELD, Colorado. — El Departamento de Agricultura (CDA) y el Departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Colorado (CPW) se han asociado con Middle Park Stockgrowers Association para obtener ayuda en una zona afectada por la reciente depredación de lobos.

“CPW y CDA han trabajado con la comunidad del condado de Grand para entender qué tipo de ayuda necesitan y les sería útil,” dijo la Comisionada de Agricultura, Kate Greenberg. “Este financiamiento ayudará a los productores del condado de Grand durante la temporada de partos, una época especialmente vulnerable para los productores de carne de vacuno. Mientras tanto, se acaba de aprobar en el presupuesto estatal el financiamiento de un nuevo programa de CDA para ayudar a los ganaderos de las zonas con lobos y otros depredadores a implementar métodos no letales para reducir conflictos que se han visto ser exitosos en otros estados. Esto lo haremos con nuestros socios en CPW.”

Gracias a las conversaciones constructivas con la comunidad y a un acuerdo con las partes interesadas, CDA destinará hasta $20,000 para qué Middle Park Stockgrowers Association inviertan en medidas de disuasión no letales que incluyan patrullas nocturnas y protección de los rebaños, como la contratación de “range riders” o patrulleros a caballo. Todos los recursos se comprarán y contratarán a través de Middle Park Stockgrowers.

“Los ganaderos de Middle Park llevan mucho tiempo lidiando con los depredadores, pero esta situación es nueva para nuestra comunidad. Estamos agradecidos por la asociación con el Departamento de Agricultura y con el Departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Colorado, que nos permitirá contar con ayuda adicional para proteger a nuestros animales,” dijo Tim Ritschard, Presidente de Middle Park Stockgrowers Association.

Además de esta medida a corto plazo, tanto CPW como CDA están ampliando sus programas permanentes de mitigación de conflictos con lobos para apoyar a los productores que aplican medidas no letales de control de depredadores. El financiamiento de estos programas se incluyó en el proyecto de ley Long Bill de 2024, aprobado recientemente por la Legislatura y firmado por el gobernador.

“La colaboración es fundamental a la hora de abordar las complejidades de la gestión de la fauna silvestre,” dijo el Director de CPW, Jeff Davis. “Al asociarse con Middle Park Stockgrowers Association, CPW y CDA proporcionan ayuda inmediata al tiempo que invierten en soluciones a largo plazo mediante la educación y el financiamiento de medidas de disuasión no letales. Juntos, estamos trabajando para proteger tanto a nuestra comunidad ganadera como a la fauna silvestre de Colorado.”

CDA colabora estrechamente con el Departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Colorado (CPW) mediante un Memorándum de Acuerdo, para anticiparse y prepararse ante incidentes con depredadores y ganado. Esto incluye ayuda y educación en los métodos de disuasión no letales, como los patrulleros a caballo o el uso de fladry, un método de usar banderas para la disuasión temporal.

Además, los productores de ganado que se ven afectados por la depredación y presentan un reclamo pueden ser elegibles para recibir el valor justo de mercado del ganado perdido por la depredación de los lobos. Un fondo en efectivo dedicado a la Compensación por Depredación del Lobo tiene $175,000, proporcionados por el Fondo General del estado, en su saldo y recibirá $350,000 de Fondos Generales adicionales por año fiscal para mantener un equilibrio saludable en el fondo de manera continua.

Dado que la primavera es una temporada exigente para los ganaderos, que están ocupados dando la bienvenida al mundo a nuevos terneros, Middle Park Stockgrowers Association les pide a los miembros de los medios de comunicación que envíen todas sus solicitudes por correo electrónico a mpstockgrowers@gmail.com.

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Steamboat Radio News Past Coverage of wolves in Colorado

• April 30, 2024 — GRAND COUNTY RANCHERS TO GET HELP WITH PROTECTING THEIR LIVESTOCK
• April 30, 2024 — NORTH PARK STOCKGROWERS SEND ANOTHER LETTER TO CPW AND GOV. POLIS
• April 28, 2024 —ANOTHER WOLF KILL IN GRAND COUNTY SUNDAY
• April 24-2024 —  COLLARED GRAY WOLF ACTIVITY MAP RELEASED FOR APRIL
• April 23, 2024 — A WOLF HAS DIED, AND MIDDLE PARK STOCKGROWERS HEAR FROM CPW
• April 22, 2024 —  MULTIPLE LETTERS SENT TODAY TO GOVERNOR POLIS AND CPW ASKING FOR ACTION ON WOLVES
• April 18, 2024 —  FOUR MORE HEAD OF LIVESTOCK KILLED BY WOLVES IN GRAND COUNTY
• 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