By Shannon Lukens. (Warning of Wolf Depredation pictures.)
The North Park Stockgrowers Association in Jackson County has sent a second letter (below) to Governor Polis and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, saying “officials must take action,” on the wolves that are killing cattle in Jackson and Grand counties. The letter says they need to, “Fulfill your leadership duties to all members of this state and not just the pro wolf advocates.”
In Jackson County, the two wolves in North Park are responsible for at least 20 kills of dogs, sheep, and cattle.
In Grand County, five yearlings and a newborn calf have been killed by at least one of the re-introduced wolves this month.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis said in a letter to the Middle Park Stockgrowers that a pair of wolves has set up a den in Grand County near where the yearlings are being killed, so it would be ‘irresponsible management’ to remove the male breeder.”
Davis added, “This is not a desirable result and I am therefore not going to take action at this time to lethally remove this animal.”
The North Park Stockgrowers wrote in their letter today, “Chronic depredators must be dealt with; den or no den. The ‘presumed pups’ have already or will acquire a taste for beef. Are we not setting them up for failure, to be chronic depredators? We again ask for the prompt removal of chronic depredating wolves in Grand and Jackson counties.”
This is the second letter North Park Stockgrowers has sent this month. They did not receive a response from the first one.
Jackson County Rancher Don Gittleson also requested lethal management (the 10J Rule) be used on the North Park Wolves and it was denied by Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Dec. 22, 2023.
Here is the letter from North Park Stockgrowers Association; April 30, 2024.
April 30, 2024
Governor Polis and the Wildlife team serving the public of Colorado:
“Our farmers deserve praise, not condemnation; and their efficiency should be cause for gratitude, not something for which they are penalized.” This quote from John F. Kennedy rings true even more now than when he said it. Right now, ag efficiency in northern Colorado is suffering due to conflicts with wolves. We feel that we are being condemned, and will be, for protecting our livestock in the proper manner. Tending to the stock this spring is taking more time, energy (physical and mental), and fuel. Peace of mind for the rancher is gone. We ranchers knew these factors would come into play. However, proposition 114 failed to bring these costs to voters’ attention; just as it failed to provide an overview of a wolf’s diet to voters as a press release from the Governor’s office suggested it did. We realize that CPW must tend to their stock just as we tend to ours. However, given the current chain of events and depredations, CPW officials must take action. Good fences make good neighbors; right now is the time for CPW to start fixing fences before they fall completely apart.
We ask the following;
- Full cooperation from higher ranking Government and CPW officials. Fulfill your leadership duties to all members of this state, not just the pro wolf advocates.
- Over several years of wolf introduction meetings, lots of our questions to CPW officials have been answered with “We don’t know” or “You know, that’s a great question”. Now is the time for real answers.
- Chronic depredators must be dealt with; den or no den. The “presumed pups” have already or will acquire a taste for beef. Are we not setting them up for failure, to be chronic depredators? We again ask for the prompt removal of chronic depredating wolves in Grand and Jackson counties.
- We readily agree with Middle Park Stockgrowers and call for a pause on wolf introduction efforts. It would be irresponsible to move forward with our eyes wide shut.
“If not us, who? If not now, when?” Again, a very appropriate quote from JFK. We urge Governor Polis and CPW to take action now, to mend broken fences, and to take the next step down the path to rectify this situation for all parties involved.
Respectfully,
North Park Stockgrowers Association
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