By Shannon Lukens. (File photo)

A dozen livestock organizations are receiving grants from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, to help with predator conflict during calving and lambing season. This is to use non-lethal management tools against wolves. Those receiving grants  are:

• $10,000 to the Routt County CSU Extension Office
• $35,000 to the Routt Moffat Woolgrowers Association
• $35,000 to the Moffat County Cattlemen’s Association
• $35,000 to the North Park Stockgrowers Association
• $20,000 to the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association
• $35,000 to CSU Garfield County Extension
• $35,000 to Gunnison Legacy Fund
• $20,000 to Upper Arkansas Conservation District
• $35,000 to the Eagle County Conservation District
• $35,000 to the Central CO Cattlemen’s Association
• $5,000 to Colorado State University
• $35,000 to GarPit Association of Conservation Districts

 

Press release from the Colorado Department of Agriculture; March 10, 2025.

Dozen Producer Organizations Receive CDA’s Non-lethal Conflict Reduction Grants

Broomfield, Colo. — As calving and lambing season begins in earnest, the Colorado Department of Agriculture is sending funding directly to Colorado livestock producer organizations to help them prepare for predator conflict using non-lethal management tools. As Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) continues the voter-mandated wolf reintroduction effort, CDA has issued 12 grants, ranging between $5,000 and $35,000, to organizations across Colorado that work with livestock owners in areas where wolves are or may be present.

“This funding is going directly to producer groups to give livestock owners the tools they need to be ready for calving and lambing season,” said Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. “CDA and CPW are offering various resources to livestock owners to help them get ahead of predator conflict in a way that works for their particular operation. These non-lethal conflict reduction grants will further strengthen the preparedness and response of livestock producers across Colorado.”

Funding will be used by grant recipients in ways that work best for their entire community. The GarPit Association of Conservation Districts, which is made up of the Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation Districts and covers Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle Counties, has formed a committee of district board members, local producers and partner staff to review all requests for assistance.

“These funds will be utilized to help livestock producers in our Conservation Districts with non-lethal wolf mitigation, carcass management, record keeping apps and start-up range rider costs,” said Emily Schwaller, District Manager. “Since the counties we cover were announced as potential release sites, producers have been reaching out for help with implementing non-lethal measures to be proactive in protecting their livestock. We have decades of history working with landowners and producers in our area and utilized these relationships to gather input on how to make these funds as useful as possible.”  

The grant funding will be used to prepare, educate, and coordinate with producers to implement non-lethal conflict reduction measures. These measures could include the development of localized carcass management plans and range rider programs. Additionally, educational organizations will use the funding to gather stakeholders and find additional research opportunities of non-lethal mitigation tactics.

The twelve organizations selected to receive funding from CDA are:

• Routt County CSU Extension ($10,000)
• CSU – Garfield County Extension ($35,000)
• Gunnison Legacy Fund ($35,000)
• Routt Moffat Woolgrowers Association ($35,000)
• Upper Arkansas Conservation District ($20,000)
• Eagle County Conservation District ($35,000)
• Central CO Cattlemen’s Association ($35,000)
• Moffat County Cattlemen’s Association ($35,000)
• North Park Stockgrowers Association ($35,000)
• Colorado State University ($5,000)
• Middle Park Stockgrowers Association ($20,000)
• GarPit Association of Conservation Districts ($35,000)

These grants were developed in response to rancher requests for increased resources to reduce the potential of depredation of livestock. In April 2024, CDA piloted the grant by awarding $20,000 to Middle Park Stockgrowers Association, to hire a range rider who could employ non-lethal mitigation tactics. The grant was later expanded by an additional $28,000 from CPW’s wolf depredation and conflict fund. This year, CDA increased the amount of funding available to producer groups in Colorado to $335,000.

CDA also partnered with CPW, USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services, and CSU Extension for a series of workshops about the non-lethal mitigation tools available through the state. Eight meetings were held across western Colorado counties as well as a classroom-style range rider training.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding, CDA works closely with CPW through the Conflict Minimization Program, to help livestock owners understand and effectively use the non-lethal deterrent methods available to them. This includes education and technical assistance for ag producers and rancher organizations.

CPW’s Conflict Minimization Program includes site assessments, depredation response, communications and training, and the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Minimization Program Guide. Additionally, CPW has hired Conflict Specialists and contracted with range riders for the summer season.

Developing a Non-lethal Conflict Reduction Program to help ranchers address predator conflict is one of CDA’s priorities and CDA is helping provide the financial and technical assistance to producers as they prepare for coexistence with new predators on the landscape.

PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA
11 de marzo de 2025
Contacto: Olga Robak, 720-428-0441, olga.robak@state.co.us

12 organizaciones de productores reciben subvenciones de CDA para la reducción de conflictos no letales

Broomfield, Colorado — La temporada de partos y crías comienza en todo su apogeo y el Departamento de Agricultura de Colorado (CDA) está enviando fondos directamente a las organizaciones de productores ganaderos de Colorado para ayudarlos a prepararse para el conflicto con los depredadores utilizando herramientas de gestión no letales. Mientras el Departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Colorado (CPW) continúa con el esfuerzo de reintroducción del lobo ordenado por los votantes, CDA ha concedido 12 subvenciones que oscilan entre $5,000 y $35,000, a organizaciones de todo Colorado que trabajan con ganaderos en zonas donde hay o puede haber lobos.

“Esta financiación se destina directamente a los grupos de productores para proporcionar a los ganaderos las herramientas preparatorias que necesitan para la temporada de partos y de cría de corderos,” dijo la Comisionada de Agricultura de Colorado Kate Greenberg. “CDA y el CPW ofrecen diversos recursos a los ganaderos para ayudarles a adelantarse al conflicto con los depredadores de una manera que les sirva para su funcionamiento particular. Estas subvenciones no letales para la reducción de conflictos reforzarán aún más la preparación y respuesta de los ganaderos de todo Colorado.”

La financiación será utilizada por los beneficiarios de las subvenciones de la manera que mejor funcione para toda su comunidad. La Asociación de Distritos de Conservación de GarPit, que está formada por los distritos de conservación de Bookcliff, Mount Sopris y South Side y abarca los condados de Garfield, Pitkin y Eagle, ha formulado un comité de miembros de la junta del distrito, productores locales y personal asociado para revisar todas las solicitudes de asistencia.

“Estos fondos se utilizarán para ayudar a los ganaderos de nuestros Distritos de Conservación con medidas no letales de mitigación de lobos, gestión de cadáveres, aplicaciones de mantenimiento de datos y gastos iniciales de los guardas de pastoreo,” dijo Emily Schwaller, Directora de Distrito. “Desde que se anunció que nuestros condados eran posibles lugares de liberación, los productores han estado pidiendo ayuda para implementar medidas no letales y ser proactivos en la protección de su ganado. Tenemos décadas de historia trabajando con propietarios de tierras y productores en nuestra zona y hemos utilizado estas relaciones para recabar información sobre cómo hacer que estos fondos sean lo más útiles posible.” 

La financiación de la subvención se utilizará para preparar, educar y coordinar con los productores para aplicar medidas no letales de reducción de conflictos. Estas medidas podrían incluir el desarrollo de planes localizados del manejamiento de cadáveres y programas de guardas de pastoreo. Además, las organizaciones educativas utilizarán la financiación para reunir a los interesados y encontrar oportunidades adicionales de investigación de tácticas de mitigación no letales.

Las doce organizaciones seleccionadas para recibir financiación de CDA son:

• Extensión de la universidad CSU del condado de Routt ($10,000)
• Extensión de CSU del condado de Garfield ($35,000)
• Gunnison Legacy Fund [Fondo del Legado Gunnison] ($35,000)
• Routt Moffat Woolgrowers Association [Asociación de Ganaderos de Lana de Routt] ($35,000)
• Distrito de conservación del Alto Arkansas [Upper Arkansas] ($20,000)
• Distrito de conservación del condado de Eagle ($35,000)
• Central CO Cattlemen’s Association [Asociación de Ganaderos de Colorado Central] ($35,000)
• Moffat County Cattlemen’s Association [Asociación de Ganaderos del condado de Moffat] ($35,000)
• North Park Stockgrowers Association [Asociación de Criadores de Ganado de North Park] ($35,000)
• Universidad Estatal de Colorado [CSU] ($5,000)
• North Park Stockgrowers Association [Asociación de Criadores de Ganado de Middle Park] ($20,000)
• Asociación de Distritos de Conservación de GarPit ($35,000)

Estas subvenciones se desarrollaron en respuesta a las peticiones de los ganaderos de aumentar los recursos para reducir la posibilidad de depredación del ganado. En abril de 2024, CDA puso a prueba la subvención concediendo $20,000 a Middle Park Stockgrowers Association, para contratar a un guardia de pastoreo que pudiera emplear tácticas de mitigación no letales. La subvención se amplió después a $28,000 adicionales procedentes del fondo de depredación y conflictos con lobos del CPW. Este año, CDA aumentó la cantidad de fondos disponibles para los grupos de productores de Colorado a $335,000.

CDA también se asoció con CPW, USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services y la Extensión CSU para una serie de talleres sobre las herramientas de mitigación no letales disponibles a través del estado. Se juntaron en ocho reuniones en los condados del oeste de Colorado y un taller en salón escolar para los guardas de pastoreo.

A través de un memorando de entendimiento, CDA trabaja en estrecha colaboración con el CPW a través del Programa de Minimización de Conflictos, para ayudar a los propietarios de ganado a comprender y utilizar de manera efectiva los métodos disuasorios no letales a su disposición. Esto incluye educación y asistencia técnica para productores agrícolas y organizaciones de ganaderos.

El Programa de Minimización de Conflictos de CPW incluye evaluaciones de sitios, combate a la depredación, comunicaciones y capacitación, y la Guía del Programa de Minimización de Conflictos entre Lobos y Ganado. Además, CPW ha contratado a Especialistas en Conflictos y a guardas de pastoreo para la temporada de verano.

El desarrollo de un Programa No Letal de Reducción de Conflictos para ayudar a los ganaderos a enfrentar los conflictos con los depredadores es una de las prioridades de CDA que está ayudando a proporcionar asistencia financiera y técnica a los productores mientras se preparan para la coexistencia con nuevos depredadores en el panorama.

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The Colorado Department of Agriculture exists to support the state’s agriculture industry and serve the people of Colorado through regulation, advocacy, and education. Our mission is to strengthen and advance Colorado agriculture, promote a safe and high-quality food supply, protect consumers, and foster responsible stewardship of the environment and natural resources. Learn more at ag.colorado.gov.

El Departamento de Agricultura de Colorado existe para apoyar a la industria agrícola y servir a la población del estado a través de regulaciones, abogacía y educación. Nuestra misión es fortalecer e impulsar la agricultura de Colorado, promover un suministro de alimentos seguro y de alta calidad, proteger a los consumidores y fomentar la administración responsable del medio ambiente y los recursos naturales. Conozca más en ag.colorado.gov.

 

Steamboat Radio News Past Coverage of wolves in Colorado

• March 5, 2025 — CPW Commission talks wolves and how “we have to get past this point of constant contention” \
• Feb. 14, 2025 — Jackson County Rancher says CPW has confirmed a wolf kill of his cow 
• Feb. 13, 2025 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife updates wolf movements and more 
• Jan. 19, 2025 — Twenty wolves have been released in Eagle and Pitkin counties 
• 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