Ranchers with the most wolf depredations ask U.S. Fish & Wildlife to take over wolf management

September 9, 2024 Shannon Lukens

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By Shannon Lukens.

Two ranching families have sent a letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife asking the federal agency to take over the management of the wolves from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Conway Farrell and his family in Grand County have lost at least 16 head of livestock to wolves that were reintroduced last December. (CPW is removing/has removed those wolves and has a media webinar on details at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9.)

January 2022; Photo courtesy Don Gittleson.

Don Gittleson and his family have lost at least 11 head of cattle to wolves in Jackson County. Those wolves naturally migrated down from Wyoming.

Both families have done non-lethal mitigation and both have asked CPW permission to lethally take the wolves, and the answer was no.

Dec. 22, 2023 — CPW DENIES GITTLESON’S REQUEST TO IMPLEMENT 10(J) RULE ON JACKSON COUNTY WOLVES

Here’s Don Gittleson.

“My personal feeling is CPW is capable, but their hands are tied. And that comes from the Governor and the first Gentleman. And I’ve known this since December of 2021. Things really aren’t going to get better in the way they manage the wolves and it needs to happen before they get another set of wolves.

Courtesy CPW.

Ten wolves were introduced to Colorado last December, and more will be introduced this year, if CPW can find a state or tribe who will give them wolves. The last ones came from Oregon.

The letter from the Gittlesons and Farrells says CPW is falling short on the recommendations for the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan.

Some points are:

CPW has been anything but transparent with the ranching community, the press and ultimately the entire general public of Colorado.
All the wolves that were brought to Colorado were either directly from packs that were known to have depredation on livestock or were in areas where livestock depredation was occurring.
Due to pressure from wolf advocacy groups and therefore the Governor, CPW pressures ranchers into using non-lethal tools, regardless of whether it will work, or most importantly be a good thing for their herd.
It is very evident that Governor Polis is at the helm of all decisions regarding wolf management. Recent comments by the First Gentleman on his Facebook reinforce what is already known, that management decisions are being based on emotions and their personal involvement with many wolf advocacy groups rather than rules, common sense, and to protect the agricultural community as well as wolves.

We also called Scott Becker with U.S. Fish and Wildlife about this in August and did not hear back.

Letter from Don Gittleson and Family and Conway Farrell and Family; Aug. 28, 2024.

August 28, 2024

Scott Becker U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Regional Wolf Coordinator

Matt Hogan U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Regional Director

We are respectfully asking that the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service take control over the decision making for the wolves in Colorado. We believe that due to the Governor’s and his spouse’s relationship with wolf advocacy groups and their own feelings, he is not allowing Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) leaders to make adequate and reasonable decisions in regards to the management of wolves. We have actually been told by members of CPW that the Governor is making the decisions.

We would like to outline some key points in The Technical Working Group’s (TWG) Final Summary of Recommendations for the Colorado wolf Restoration and Management Plan that we believe CPW is falling short on.

“Building trust, maintaining relationships, setting expectations, emphasizing transparent and meaningful outreach with stakeholders and the public, and having a consistent, frequent, and determined presence in the field by CPW staff to establish and maintain trust are critical to achieve success in reintroduction and management.”
- CPW has been anything but transparent with the ranching community, the press and ultimately the entire general public of Colorado.
- The leadership at CPW has not been transparent with CPW Officers working on the ground. Currently ranchers tend to know more about what is going on were wolves are involved than the CPW officers in their own jurisdiction. When the CPW officer is asked by a rancher about something they already know and the officer says he doesn’t know, that creates a trust issue. It is putting their own officers in a bad light. The ranchers either think they are lying or are not in touch with the situation. There are many ranches that are already stating that CPW is not welcome on their place.

“No wolf should be translocated that has a known history of chronic depredation, and sourcing from geographic areas with chronic depredation events should not occur.”
- All the wolves that were brought to Colorado were either directly from packs that were know to have depredation on livestock or were in areas where livestock depredation was occurring.

“There is TWG consensus that compensation for confirmed depredations at fair market value has technical merit. Compensation for probable depredation has technical merit. A range of compensation amounts (50-100% of fair market value) were suggested as having technical merit; however, lesser amounts (i.e., less than 50%) were not suggested.”
- They consistently say that they pay when there is a preponderance of evidence indicating wolves where responsible, but in reality, they only pay if it is beyond a reasonable doubt. They don’t pay at all for probably- that’s not even in their vocabulary.

“Lethal management of conflict wolves: Lethal and non-lethal management are both critically important tools for conflict minimization; lethal management will likely attract greater social attention. In evaluating the management approach on a context-specific basis, consider the trade-offs among ability to target depredating wolves, conflict minimization efficacy, cost, reproductive and recruitment success, wolf population size and listing status, impacts to livestock producers, and social/stakeholder interests when considering lethal take options, including incremental and whole pack removal. “
- Some packs show increasingly frequent depredation behavior, while others may do so once or twice a year, every other year, or even less frequently (USFWS 2011).
  - The wolves in Grand County have killed over 20 head of livestock since April.
- Stake Holders Advisory Group (SAG) “Addressing gray wolf-livestock conflicts is an essential part of this Plan. The agricultural industry is a vital component of the Colorado economy and provides important open space and habitats that support a wide variety of wildlife.”
  - Currently the only consideration that has been taking is to “not affect the restoration process and pressure from the other side” Jeff Davis
  - The current wolf plan adopted by CPW “The lethal control of chronically depredating wolves following depredation events will be conducted by state or federal agents (consistent with applicable law) if determined to be appropriate, after an evaluation of the circumstances, in all phases.”
- Due to pressure from wolf advocacy groups and therefore the Governor, CPW pressures ranchers into using non-lethal tools, regardless of whether it will work, or most importantly be a good thing for their herd.
  - CPW will not put up Fladgery around anything bigger than 40 acres. We understand why they have this stance as Fladgery in this area can be a maintenance nightmare but this practice eliminates a large portion of ranchers in this area. It would be poor animal husbandry to confine anything over approximately 20 cows on 40 acres for any amount of time due to health issue.
  - There is currently a grant for Twenty thousand dollars for range riders that livestock associations can apply for. If you receive this grant, it states that you cannot use lethal removal for wolves. It is unclear whether this only the applies to the range rider or if it includes the rancher that is using the services. In addition, $20,000.00 isn’t adequate to fund enough range riders for the amount of cattle in Grand or Jackson. Grand County applied for this grant and had seasoned cattlemen riding and they were still unable to stop the depredations. They deployed cracker shells along with other scare techniques to try and keep the wolves away without success.

It is very evident that Governor Polis is at the helm of all decisions regarding wolf management. Recent comments by the First Gentleman on his Facebook reinforce what is already known, that management decisions are being based on emotions and their personal involvement with many wolf advocacy groups rather than rules, common sense, and to protect the agricultural community as well as wolves.

The way CPW is currently managing, or not managing these wolves, is ruining their relationship with many in the agricultural community and is not helping the wolves either. This situation is having a very big financial and emotional impact on the ranching community in both Grand and Jackson Counties.

We feel that the current CPW staff is very capable of making good decisions regarding the management of these wolves, but as long as Governor Polis is in office they will never be able to make the decision to remove wolves lethally even if that is the best course of action.

Don Gittleson and Family

Conway Farrell and Family

Steamboat Radio News Past Coverage of wolves in Colorado

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