Middle Park Stockgrowers ask CPW not to release any more wolves there

September 13, 2024 Shannon Lukens

By Shannon Lukens.

The Middle Park Stockgrowers Association is again reaching out to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis, to ask that wolves not be released in the Grand County area again and to not release the captured wolves from the Copper Creek Pack. The letter is below.

The letter first thanks Director Davis for removing the wolves that were killing livestock in Grand County.

The letter then asks CPW how they plan to address future wolves in the area, where the Copper Creek Pack was living. The letter says any reintroduced wolves will “likely reestablish themselves in the Williams Fork Valley and follow the trails the Copper Creek pack established to the livestock being raised in that area.”

Screen shot of three Copper Creek Pack wolf pups, courtesy Mike Usalavage.

The letter also specifically refers to the wolf pups that were captured from the Copper Creek Pack that CPW plans to release once they are grown and can be collared. The Stockgrowers say CPW is incorrect in saying there wasn’t any evidence that the pups were involved in livestock depredations in Grand County.

“The slaughter of these sheep was likely a training exercise for the pups in which they participated to learn to ‘hunt’ and kill livestock like their parents. As a result, these pups have learned to equate the smell of sheep and cattle blood with food.”

The Stockgrowers group also doesn’t want the remaining adult female in the pack to be released “for a second time.”

The letter once again refers to the “botched” introduction of wolves last year and asks that lethal control be used in wolf management at all phases.

The letter ends by asking CPW to “refrain from releasing wolves in this area again, and to not release the remaining wolves in the Copper Creek pack in Colorado again.”

September 13, 2024

Director Jeff Davis
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
6060 Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80216

Re: Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife’s (“CPW”) Capture of the Cooper

Creek Pack and Its Plans to Release These Wolves

Dear Director Davis,

We are writing to express our gratitude for the recent actions you took to remove the depredating wolves in the Copper Creek pack. As you know, despite the use of numerous nonlethal measures, this pack has has been depredating livestock in and around the Williams Fork drainage since January 2024. Although we wish these problem wolves would have been dealt with much earlier, we appreciate the recent steps CPW has taken to remove them.

That said, the relief CPW’s actions provided to livestock producers in the Williams Fork Valley will be short lived if the agency does not learn from its mistakes and take proactive measures to prevent this situation from reoccurring.

At the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission’s most recent meeting, CPW stated that it plans to release the next group of wolves in the “Northern Zone” of Colorado—just as it did in December 2023. We have learned from experienced professionals familiar with wolf behavior and movement that wolves follow the same trails for extended periods of time. We have been advised that it is likely—if not certain—that future wolves will follow the trails of the Copper Creek pack and restablish themselves in the Williams Fork Valley in a matter of two to three years.

Please confirm how CPW plans to address the likelihood that wolves introduced in 2024-2025 will likely restablish themselves in the Williams Fork Valley and follow the trails the Copper Creek pack established to the livestock being raised in that area.

In its recent media-only press conference, CPW revealed plans to release the problem wolves from the Copper Creek pack once the pups are grown and can be collared. To the extent CPW plans to release the remaining adult wolf in the Copper Creek pack—the female Wolf No. 2312—that is a mistake. CPW itself concluded this wolf was responsible for at least three depredation events since April 2024, and we have evidence that Wolf No. 2312 was involved in the depredation of 20 or more sheep in July 2024. Releasing this depredating wolf in Colorado for a second time will simply result in CPW having to capture her again or implement lethal control to prevent more future losses.

CPW will almost certainly face the same issues if it releases the pups once they are grown, because these pups have a history of depredating livestock too. CPW is incorrect in
stating there is “no evidence that the four pups were involved in any of the livestock depredation incidents in Grand County.” When as many as 20 sheep went missing in July 2024, the owner of the sheep found one lamb suffering from fatal bites to it’s underbelly. The bites appear too big to have come from a canine and too small to have come from an adult wolf, and we suspect these types of wounds are indicative of a wolf pup attack. The slaughter of these sheep was likely a training exercise for the pups in which they participated to learn to “hunt” and kill livestock like their parents. As a result, these pups have learned to equate the smell of sheep and cattle blood with food.

To rebuild the crumbling trust between CPW and the state’s livestock producers, CPW must remain transparent in its decision-making process about the future of the remaining Copper Creek pack wolves. Among other issues, CPW has not updated its document tracking confirmed wolf depredations in Colorado since July 28, 2024, even though the document allegedly is updated “every 5 minutes” and numerous depredations have occurred since then.

See CPW, Confirmed Gray Wolf Depredation Information, https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-
1vRKBg2b1faK1Oi53O9HKe2EuaeT8lB9q0LpCOD8p6gyAE2YSH5MYzlWo_
uJdi0fTAD16DbmCBGbaax/pub.

Moreover, we only learned that Wolf No. 2312 is responsible for numerous livestock depredations on or before June 9, 2024 after filing a CORA specifically requesting this information, and it has become clear that CPW will not identify the wolf responsible for any depredation since June 9, 2024.

It should not be this hard to understand what is killing our livestock, especially when we know the information from the wolves’ collars is at the agency’s fingertips. We believe you owe it to the Colorado public—and particularly those living with the wolves on the Western slope— to be transparent about each wolves’ depredating history and to inform the public where you plan to release a wolf with a history of depredation.

Please confirm CPW intends to learn from its mistakes this past year by being transparent with the public about its investigations of depredating wolves and its plans to release depredating wolves in Colorado.

If CPW has learned anything from the botched introduced of wolves in the last year, it should be that lethal control must be part of wolf management at all phases. By failing to lethally control the male and female in the Copper Creek pack earlier, CPW wasted significant resources attempting to institute ineffective non-lethal measures after the fact, before eventually being forced to trap the six wolves in the pack (with the male wolf dying in captivity just days later). If the Stockgrower’s request to remove the female and the male had been granted earlier, it would have resoloved this problem quickly.

Thank you again for taking action to remove the Copper Creek pack. Moving forward, we ask that you take into serious consideration the lessons learned from the mistakes made this past year. As producers of Middle Park and Colorado, we are asking you to refrain from releasing wolves in this area again, and to not release the remaining wolves in the Copper Creek pack in Colorado again.

Sincerely,
Tim Ritschard
President
Middle Park Stockgrowers Association

Steamboat Radio News Past Coverage of wolves in Colorado

Sept. 12, 2024 — Another wolf is dead in Grand County
Sept. 10, 2024 — Grand County ranchers are reporting more wolf kills
Sept. 9, 2024 — The Copper Creek Wolf Pack has been captured and CPW says the adult male was unhealthy and has died
Sept. 9, 2024 –– Ranchers with the most wolf depredations ask U.S. Fish & Wildlife to take over wolf management
Aug. 27, 2024 — The Copper Creek Wolf Pack is getting rounded up and relocated
Aug. 23, 2024 — CPW confirms the next wolves introduced will again be in Northern Colorado
July 31, 2024 — Eight more sheep confirmed killed by wolves in Grand County
July 31, 2024 — Colville Tribe says they won’t send wolves to Colorado now
July 29, 2024 — Two more sheep die from wolves in Grand County
June 24, 2024 — CPW REPORTS LESS WOLF ACTIVITY IN ROUTT AND NONE IN MOFFAT
June 20, 2024 — WOLF PUP CONFIRMED IN GRAND COUNTY
June 19, 2024 — CPW CONFIRMS SOUTH ROUTT WOLF KILL
June 17, 2024 — PRODUCER REPORTS SUSPECTED WOLF KILL IN SOUTH ROUTT COUNTY
June 16, 2024 — CPW DIRECTOR JEFF DAVIS ANSWERS QUESTIONS AT JACKSON COUNTY GATHERING
June 13, 2024 — CPW TO FORM WORKING GROUP REGARDING WOLF RESTORATION
June 12, 2024 — NORTH PARK PRODUCER WHO LOSES CALF SPEAKS OUT
June 10, 2024 — CPW CONFIRMS ANOTHER WOLF DEPREDATION IN JACKSON COUNTY THIS WEEKEND
June 5, 2024 — Wolf Video posted from Grand County
May 26, 2024 — DON GITTLESON SAYS ANOTHER CALF HAS BEEN KILLED BY WOLVES ON HIS RANCH
May 15, 2024 — HERE’S THE LATEST LETTER TO MIDDLE PARK STOCKGROWERS FROM CPW DIRECTOR DAVIS
May 14, 2024 — Suspected mountain lion kills the collared wolf
May 6, 2024 — MIDDLE PARK STOCKGROWERS SEND EIGHT-PAGE LETTER TO CPW
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. 21, 2023 —WOLF 2101 RECAPTURED AND RECOLLARED IN JACKSON COUNTY
Feb. 21, 2023 —10J RULE MEETINGS WITH REGARDS TO WOLVES SCHEDULED FOR NW COLORADO BY US FISH AND WILDLIFE
Jan. 17, 2023 —STATE LEGISLATORS HEAR MORE ON WOLF REINTRODUCTION AT JOINT COMMITTEE HEARING
Dec. 13, 2022 —MORE WOLVES VISIT GITTLESON PROPERTY IN JACKSON COUNTY THIS WEEK
Dec. 12, 2022 —NORTH PARK RANCHERS MEET WITH CPW REGARDING WOLF REINTRODUCTION PLAN
Dec. 10, 2022 —CPW RELEASES DRAFT COLORADO WOLF RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
Nov. 19, 2022 —ANOTHER WOLF ATTACK REPORTED IN JACKSON COUNTY
Oct. 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
May 10, 2022 ––THIRD CALF DIES ON JACKSON COUNTY RANCH; CPW DOES NECROPSY
April 11, 2022 —A NEW LITTER OF WOLF PUPS IS EXPECTED IN JACKSON COUNTY
March 17, 2022 —WOLVES ATTACK ANOTHER DOMESTIC COW IN JACKSON COUNTY
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