Ranchers face any number of challenges during the spring and peak calving season. However, two ranchers in northern Colorado are experiencing suspected wolf depredations on their calves, adding to the complexity of issues surrounding the recent wolf reintroduction into the state.
Over the weekend in Jackson County, Colorado, a wolf attacked and killed another calf, marking the second incident of livestock depredation in the state in less than a week.
On Sunday morning, Colorado Parks and Wildlife responded to a call on a potential calf depredation and conducted an investigation. Wildlife officials noted in a press release on Monday that a calf was discovered dead with injuries consistent with wolf depredation, including a partially consumed hindquarter. Partial wolf tracks were also identified in the vicinity.
The agency indicated that they are aware of four wolves in the vicinity where the calf was discovered. This includes wolves with established territory in North Park and gray wolves reintroduced into the wild last December as part of a 2020 ballot measure approved by Colorado voters to reintroduce these predators.
A released wolf was confirmed to have killed a calf in Grand County on April 2 near Kremmling, which is located about 30 miles from the most recent kill.
Wildlife officials estimate a total of 12 wolves in Colorado: the 10 reintroduced last December and two from a pack that migrated from Wyoming and settled in Jackson County. The wolves reintroduced in December were released in Grand County and neighboring Summit County.
CPW chose not to disclose the specific location of the wolf attack in Jackson County over the weekend. According to their release, the CORA exception covering species locations (24-72-204(2)(a)(X)) allows CPW to withhold information that “reveals the specific location or could be used to determine the specific location of … an individual animal or group of animals.” Identifying the wolf or wolves potentially involved could allow someone to determine the specific location of those animals.
