Four yearling cattle have been killed by a wolf, or wolves, in Grand County. Colorado Parks and Wildlife believes the attack occurred between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

In an email to Sky-Hi News, Parks and Wildlife officials stated that they responded to a possible livestock depredation incident on Wednesday morning. They responded to another report on Thursday morning. Both incidents occurred on the same property.

On Wednesday, the agency investigated three yearling cattle that had been killed. Wildlife officers and a biologist conducted the field investigation “and found injuries consistent with wolf depredation,” the agency stated.

The following morning, the agency once again received a report of a livestock depredation, this time on a yearling. A wildlife officer responded and conducted an investigation. According to the agency, they found signs consistent with wolf depredation, including hemorrhaging and partially consumed hindquarters.

Although the earliest kill likely occurred Monday, “a storm brought a foot of snow to the area covering up the carcasses and delaying their discovery until Wednesday,” the agency stated.

The first livestock depredation event since wolves were reintroduced occurred in Grand County on April 2. A second incident happened in Jackson County on April 7.

The wolf, or wolves, that were in the area at the time of the depredation were part of the 10 wolves that were reintroduced to Colorado in December 2023, the agency stated.

According Grand County Commissioner Merrit Linke, a wolf or wolves recently injured a calf in Jackson County. The calf lived, and Linke said the rancher is doctoring the calf in the hope that it will survive. Parks and Wildlife officials stated that the incident occurred April 13 and that wildlife officers who responded to the scene confirmed the depredation.

Parks and Wildlife does not release the locations of wolves to the public. Linke told Sky-Hi News that he understands the varied reasons that Parks and Wildlife cannot release specific locations of wolves, but he added that livestock producers can uncover the locations of wolves based on tools such as game cameras.

“They know,” Linke said. “They’re still trying to be respectful of the law and cooperate.”

Middle Park Stockgrowers Association issues request to Parks and Wildlife

The Middle Park Stockgrowers Association believes that two wolves have been responsible for killing five head of livestock this April in Grand County in three separate events.

“This is chronic depredation,” association officials wrote in a statement after the most recent four depredations.

Livestock producers and Western Slope lawmakers have asked the agency to clearly define the term “chronic depredation.” When a wolf falls into that category, Parks and Wildlife or a producer is allowed to intervene, including using lethal measures, according to a federal rule. That provision, granted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in November, allows the state or ranchers to kill wolves, which are normally protected under the Endangered Species Act.

In a statement, the Stockgrowers Association requested that Parks and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife lethally remove what they’re calling the two chronically depredating wolves.

In a meeting with livestock producers in Kremmling on April 9, Parks and Wildlife stated that the definition of “chronic depredation” is still being worked on.

The stockgrowers stated that out of the first three cattle killed, “one was partially consumed, another had severe wounds to its hind quarters, and one was killed with minimal visible damage.” The fourth yearling that was killed was dismembered with the entire hind quarter missing.

“There have been five confirmed depredations in Grand County, but our producers, now more familiar with signs of wolf depredations, believe they have experienced multiple additional attacks and kills,” the Stockgrowers Association added.

About Parks and Wildlife’s wolf management plan

The producers who lost the livestock will be entitled to the fair market value of the animals if a claim is submitted, as laid out in the management’s plan compensation program. Veterinary bills are also eligible for reimbursement.

The agency stated it is working with the Colorado Department of Agriculture to build “the capacity to anticipate and prepare for predator livestock incidents.” The Colorado Department of Agriculture and Parks and Wildlife are finalizing a “range rider plan” to assist producers in deterring wolf conflicts, along with other tools to help ranchers with nonlethal deterrence.

Range riders are boots-on-the-ground individuals who peruse the landscape on horseback to proactively manage livestock and search for signs of predators. According to Parks and Wildlife, communication between its agency, the Department of Agriculture and producers “is a top priority during calving season.”

This story is from SkyHiNews.com.