By Shannon Lukens. Photo courtesy CPW.

 

Range Riders are being hired by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to help with the wolf reintroduction program. It is in partnership with the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

Up to 12 Range Riders will be hired. Four are expected to be hired immediately, as they are being interviewed this week and next. CPW Deputy Director Reid Dewalt says eight more will be hired as spring progresses.

“We’ll have two riders per county, in Jackson, Grand, Routt, Eagle, Garfield, Pitkin, Summit, Rio Blanco, and Moffat counties. Although they will be based primarily in one county, they will be able to move between counties.”

 

A one-day training is Jan. 30 in Glenwood Springs. The agenda and trainers are listed below. It is to focus on early-season conflict mitigation during calving and lambing season which typically begins in late February. Full Agenda

A second round of training is four days long in April. (No date has been given.) A CPW spokesperson writes that it, “will prepare producers and range riders for conflict mitigation on the open range during the warmer summer and fall months.”

Colorado Range Rider Program interest form 

 

Here are comments about the Range Riding program from CPW Deputy Director Reid Dewalt at the Joint Senate and House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee meeting on Jan. 15 at the State Capitol. He was asked about the program by Committee Chair Senator Dylan Roberts.

 

The Colorado Department of Agriculture website says Range Rider Training will include:

• What is Range Riding? Best Practices
• Range Riding and Livestock Handling
• Stewards of the Working Wild: Conservation Collaboration
• Wildlife Management with Colorado Parks and Wildlife
• Optimizing Camera Deployment and Data Management

 

Also from the CDA website –

 

Range Riders

Range riders are trained personnel with a specialized set of skills who spend time with livestock to monitor for the presence of wolves and deploy hazing techniques to deter wolves. The job requires working closely with livestock producers as well as a strong understanding of animal husbandry and stockmanship techniques.

CPW is partnering with CDA to create the Colorado Range Rider program that will launch in early 2025. CDA and CPW staff members, as well as any future contract range riders, will go through specialized training to create a team of trained range riders with connections to local communities who can be deployed to support producers at short notice.

The inaugural training will take place in January 2025 and focus on early-season conflict mitigation during calving and lambing season, which typically begins in late February. The second round of training will take place over a four-day period in April 2025 and will prepare producers and range riders for conflict mitigation on the open range during the warmer summer and fall months.

“The Colorado Range Rider program will train skilled riders who will work alongside Colorado’s livestock producers to mitigate conflict, expand capacity on the range, and help support resilient ranches,” said Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. “Through CDA and CPW’s partnership, this program will connect producers to state resources available to them as we work toward coexistence with wolves in Colorado.”

Contractors for the Colorado Range Riding program will be hired for the high season on the range, which lasts approximately five months, from mid April to October.

Livestock producers, farm and ranch managers, and other private individuals interested in a range rider contract position can express their interest via the Colorado Range Rider Program Interest Form(opens in new window).

 

 

Range Riding Short Course Training Curriculum

January 30, 2025 – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Morgridge Commons Meeting and Conference Center

815 Cooper Ave 2nd floor, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

 

Session 1: Opening Remarks and Panel Introductions at 8 a.m.

 

Session 2: What is Range Riding? Best practices and their applications across various operational contexts. 8:45 a.m.

Rae Nickerson, PhD Candidate, Utah State University

• What is range riding and defining effectiveness (needed skills)
• The importance of context and operational considerations
• Risk evaluation
• Supporting tools
• Communication and conflict mitigation
• Panel discussion

 

10:30 a.m.: Break – 15 minutes

 

Session 3: Range Riding and Livestock Handling at 10:45 a.m.

Amber Mason, Ruby Dell Ranch

• Riding the herd vs riding the predators
• Stockmanship
• Identifying and responding to problems
• Stockmanship and rider safety
• Panel discussion

 

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.: Lunch

 

Session 4: “Stewards of the Working Wild”: Regional Conservation Partnership Program Contracting and Collaboration at 1:30 p.m.

Matthew Collins, Western Landowners Alliance

 

Session 5 Colorado Parks and Wildlife at 2 p.m.

• Wildlife Tracks and Signs
• Hazing/Permitting
• Effective injurious and non-injurious hazing tools.
• How to order nonlethal materials like cracker shells and rubber buckshot.
• Reporting requirements.
• What to do when suspected depredation is found – pictures, scene containment, who to call, etc.

3:30 p.m.: Break – 15 mins

 

Session 6 Optimizing Camera Deployment at 3:45 p.m.

• Camera Deployment
• Data management expectations and landing place

 

5 p.m. – Conclude

 

 

Trainers and Panelists

 

Rae Nickerson rae.nickerson@usu.edu 

Rae Nickerson is a PhD student at Utah State University evaluating the effectiveness of range riding on fifteen ranches across five western states. She has a decade of experience working on wolf-livestock conflict with producers through her work agencies, graduate collaborations, and as a partner with Western Landowners Alliance. She’s trained in low-stress livestock handling/range riding and conflict facilitation/mitigation.

 

Amber Mason  amber.mason1458@gmail.com  

Amber Mason has been a livestock producer in the Centennial Valley for over twenty years. She has extensive experience in range riding for wolves and grizzly bears and specializes in stockmanship and range riding.

 

Sisto Hernandez shernandez@westernlandowners.org  

Sisto Hernandez is the New Mexico Resources Coordinator for Western Landowners Alliance and a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. He comes from a ranching heritage on both sides of his family. Sisto has extensive experience managing range riding programs, has represented his Tribe, served as president of the Mexican Wolf/Livestock Council for Arizona and New Mexico, and is vice president of the Grasshopper Livestock Association.

 

Kim Kerns kimberleekerns@gmail.com 

Kim Kerns is a fourth-generation sheep and cattle rancher in Northeast Oregon who has been operating with wolves for over fifteen years. Kim has extensive experience in range riding, working with livestock guardian dogs, applying deterrents, and utilizing fencing practices to protect livestock from carnivores. Sharing her stewardship knowledge, Kerns has hosted training sessions for producers in Oregon and state agencies around the West.

 

Matt Collins

Matt Collins is the Working Wild Challenge Manager for the Western Landowners Alliance. Based out of Salida Colorado, Matt is an expert in collaborative solutions to managing wildlife-livestock conflicts. Matt manages and facilitates the Conflict Reduction Consortium, a landowner led working group including agencies and partners seeking shared wins for working lands and wildlife. He also manages two Regional Conservation Partnership Program Grants with the Natural Resource Conservation Service, that together with partners is supporting $22 million in funding availability for landowner-implemented conflict prevention tools in five Western states.

 

 

Steamboat Radio News Past Coverage of wolves in Colorado

• Jan. 16, 2025 — Here is how you can become a Range Rider
• Jan. 15, 2025 — Colorado legislators are told that CPW agents are being threatened
• Jan. 12, 2025 — New wolves may have arrived from British Columbia 
• Jan. 11, 2025 — Up to 15 new gray wolves from British Columbia will be in Colorado within two weeks
• Jan. 8, 2025 — Video of the CPW Commission vote, denying the Wolf Citizen Petition
• Jan. 7, 2025 — Ag producers on Ad Hoc Wolf Working Group speak out before Wednesday’s CPW Commission meeting 
• Jan. 7, 2025 — STATE LEGISLATORS DISCUSS WOLVES AND THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION 
• Jan. 2, 2025 — A reward is offered for the person who shot a gray wolf in Grand County 
• Dec. 31, 2024 — Producers submit three wolf depredation claims for over $575,000 
• Dec. 23, 2024 — CPW releases definition and stipulations of Chronic Depredation and Lethal Management of wolves
• Dec. 21, 2024 — CPW says they’ll recommend denying petition request for delaying next introduction of wolves 
• Dec. 9, 2024 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife has started the operation to bring 15 gray wolves to Colorado from British Columbia
• Nov. 14, 2024 — Wolf Update — November 14, 2024 
• Nov. 3, 2024 — A collared wolf has crossed I-70 to the south, for the first time 
• Nov. 3, 2024 — CPW responds to requests from Club 20 about Wolf Reintroduction 
• Oct. 15, 2024 — Livestock producers have access to livestock protection dogs for free from USDA 
• Oct. 11, 2024 — Fifth wolf pup has not been captured 
• Oct. 8, 2024 — CPW Commission gets another letter asking to pause wolf reintroduction
• Oct. 6, 2024 — CPW Commission hears wolf updates at meeting 
• Sept. 30, 2024 –– A 5th wolf pup is spotted in Grand County and will be captured by CPW
• Sept. 30, 2024 — Colorado Ag Organizations petition CPW Commission before further wolf releases happen
• Sept. 26, 2024 — No producers show for first Non-Lethal Wolf Conflict Reduction Training Meeting 
• Sept. 23, 2024 — CPW confirms a cow and a calf killed by wolves in Grand County 
• Sept. 16, 2024 — The Wolf Conflict Reduction program is hiring two field specialists  
• Sept. 14, 2024 — The next set of wolves coming to Colorado will be from Canada 
• Sept. 13, 2024 — Middle Park Stockgrowers ask CPW not to release any more wolves there 
• 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