Colorado Cattlemen's Assoc. reports new wolf attacks that spark outrage among ranchers

May 27, 2025 Shannon Lukens

By Shannon Lukens. Courtesy photo.

Colorado Cattlemen’s Association has issued a press release today about wolf attacks in northwest Colorado that happened during the day in Pitkin County, at three different ranches, over Memorial Day weekend. The release says two calves are dead and others are injured. They say it was three wolves from the Copper Creek Pack, which was out of Grand County, that did it. The parents and pups had been captured after multiple livestock were killed there. But they were re-released by Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Pitkin County in January.

Press Release from Colorado Cattlemen’s Association; May 27, 2025.

Broad Daylight Wolf Attack in Northwest Colorado Sparks Outrage Among Ranchers

PITKIN COUNTY – A series of devastating wolf attacks occurred over Memorial Day weekend at the Lost Marbles Ranch, Crystal River Ranch and McCabe Ranch, leaving two calves dead and others injured. A broad daylight attack at the Lost Marbles Ranch, carried out by three wolves from the notorious Copper Creek pack, took place in the heart of the calving grounds, a large meadow where ranchers actively monitor mothers and newborns during the critical calving season.

The wolves separated a cow and a calf from the main herd, severely injuring the calf.

While many in the public romanticize the idea of seeing a wolf, local ranchers live with the daily reality of fear, stress and loss. Since calving began in early March, emotional strain has continued to mount, taking a profound toll on families.

“It’s hard to describe the heartbreak of finding a calf torn apart in the middle of the field you’ve been tending day and night,” said Mike Cerveny, the rancher whose animals were attacked. “We work around the clock to protect our livestock, only to be blindsided like this and not even told wolves were in the area until it was too late.”

Cerveny also experienced confirmed wolf depredations in March of this year.

In a separate but related incident on Thursday, another calf was killed and a second injured on the Crystal River Ranch, west of Highway 133. While the Governor’s office and state agencies publicly celebrate the implementation of the range rider program, its on-the-ground execution tells a different story.

“CPW dispatched a range rider to the area but failed to provide essential information, including my contact information, specifics about the property or even a map of the terrain,” said Tom Harrington, Crystal River Ranch Manager and President of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. “I learned about the wolf activity and the range rider’s presence through our local brand inspector a day before I ever heard from wildlife officials.”

When the dead calf was found, CPW staff investigated the scene and verbally confirmed it was a likely wolf depredation.

“We were promised partnership,” Harrington continued. “But it seems that the relationship has gone to the wayside. We’re left trying to figure this out on our own, rancher to rancher, neighbor to neighbor. The Governor wants celebratory headlines about his successes, but he couldn’t care less about the actual impacts. He’s made his disfavorable opinion about those of us who choose a rural lifestyle loud and clear.”

Ranchers across Western Colorado expressed deep frustration and disappointment with CPW and Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) leadership. Promises made during listening sessions, including proactive communication, on-the-ground support and the avoidance of relocating problem wolves, have been broken repeatedly.

The Copper Creek pack, responsible for numerous livestock depredations last year before being relocated by CPW, was released in Pitkin County earlier this year.

“These attacks are a clear betrayal of the public trust,” said Erin Spaur, Executive Director of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. “CPW assured ranchers they would not import known depredating wolves from out of state or move problem wolves from one region to another. Yet here we are. The very pack that wreaked havoc on ranchers last year is now someone else’s problem. Given the history with the Copper Creek Pack, CPW should immediately remove them to comply with the State’s Wolf Plan and the chronic depredation definition.”

Compounding the sense of betrayal is the continued lack of communication. Many ranchers hear about wolf activity not from CPW, but from neighbors. In other regions, requests for non-lethal deterrents are met with a lack of available resources. Local CPW staff who live in these communities and understand the stakes are stretched thin, left to manage the fallout from decisions made far from the Western Slope.

“This isn’t just about one attack or another,” said Brad Day, a neighboring rancher who helped Cerveny in the aftermath of the Memorial Day attack. “This is about a failed process that prioritizes politics over people. In true Governor Polis fashion, the reintroduction was rushed, communication is broken and producers are the ones paying the price emotionally and financially. He would rather control how CPW field staff do their jobs than actually listen to them.”

Day also experienced a calf depredation this weekend, in addition to attacks on two animals on May 17. Several more are missing. He is the third rancher in close proximity to suffer wolf-related losses in a one-month timeframe.

The broader ranching community is calling for a responsible pause in wolf reintroductions to allow agency programs to be fully implemented, refined, and assessed. After this denning season, the state’s wolf population is expected to approach 40 animals. Following last year’s half-million-dollar depredation claims, ranchers argue that more time is needed to reduce conflict, evaluate current efforts, and learn what works before expanding the reintroduction effort.

As one rancher put it, “We’ve been thrown to the wolves literally and figuratively by leaders who will never have to live with the consequences of their decisions.”

# # #

Steamboat Radio News Past Coverage of wolves in Colorado

May 16, 2025 —A gray wolf from British Columbia has died in Northwest Colorado
April 24, 2025 — Another gray wolf from British Columbia has died
April 11, 2025, Media Statement: Colorado Gray Wolf 2513 Mortality in Wyoming
March 29, 2025 — Wolf in Jackson County may be heading to Wyoming
March 28, 2025 — Wolf in Jackson County meets three Livestock Guardian Dogs
March 27, 2025 — Day 12 and the wolf keeps showing up each night at the same Jackson County ranch
March 24, 2025 — Wolf spotted on game cam in Jackson County
March 22, 2025 — Ballot initiative to end wolf introduction by 2026 has been filed
March 20, 2025 — A gray wolf recently introduced to Colorado has been killed in Wyoming
March 19, 2025 — CPW confirms a wolf attack on a dog in Jackson County
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