Wyoming’s southern neighbor has reported its first incidence of cattle being murdered by predators after a calf was discovered dead. This comes less than four months after wolves were reintroduced into Colorado where they had previously been exterminated.
A rancher in Grand County, Colorado, reported the deceased calf early on Tuesday morning. Investigators from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirmed that the calf had most likely been killed by wolves, according to a statement released by the agency’s spokesman, Travis Duncan.
In December, ten wolves were released in the state of Colorado, and it was believed that two wolves had survived from the North Park pack, which had been disbanded, and were still in the state.
The North Park wolf pack was established by wolves that had migrated from Wyoming to Colorado at some point around the year 2020. It was believed that this pack was responsible for the deaths of dogs and calves in Jackson County, Colorado.
The wolves that were reintroduced originated in Oregon and were members of packs that had been responsible for the slaughter of cattle in that state.
Does Not Come as a Surprise
In an interview with Cowboy State Daily, Jim Magagna, executive vice president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, stated that he had anticipated hearing about wolves killing cattle in the state of Colorado.
“I am not in the least bit surprised to take note of it. It’s a reflection of what we went through in Wyoming,” he stated during the conversation. The state of Wyoming, on the other hand, has a wolf management system in place.
Within the boundaries of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks in Wyoming, wolves continue to enjoy complete protection. Wolf hunting is permitted during certain seasons in certain regions that are adjacent to the parks. After that, in around 85 percent of Wyoming, wolves can be hunted at any time without the need for a license from the state.
In Colorado, wolves continue to be protected as an endangered species by the federal government, and the general public is not permitted to hunt them. In situations where there is “chronic depredation” of livestock, game agents in Colorado may shoot some wolves, according to announcements made by state officials. Nevertheless, the specific definition of what constitutes chronic depredation has not yet been established.
A ‘Wolf Presence’ Is Anticipated Around Southern Wyoming
Although there have been no confirmed reports of wolves crossing the state boundary into Wyoming, there have been instances in which wolves from Colorado have ventured rather near to the border.
Magagna made the observation that there have been instances in which wolves have strayed from their stronghold in the northwest region of Wyoming and relocated to the southern region of the state.
In light of this, he anticipates that there will be an increase in the number of wolves in southern Wyoming, either from the north, from the south, or from both directions.
According to what he claimed, “There will be some wolf presence.” “And fortunately, unless something changes and the wolves are re-listed as an endangered species in Wyoming for some reason, it will be a manageable presence,” the author writes.
All of us are going to have disagreements
According to Colorado resident Matt Barnes, who spoke with Cowboy State Daily, the death of a calf that was taken by wolves was not a surprise and most likely does not constitute a cause for public concern.
Barnes, a range scientist who has worked on wolf and grizzly bear conflict mitigation on ranches in Wyoming and Montana, stated that “if we’re going to have carnivore restoration, we’re going to have livestock conflicts.” Range scientists believe that livestock conflicts are inevitable.
According to him, the event that occurred this week was thoroughly investigated by CPW officers. And this is significant because ranchers and people who support for the conservation of wolves need to have faith in the findings of the investigators in order for Colorado’s wolf program to be successful.
“We need impartial investigations” of situations that are alleged to involve wolves murdering livestock, he stated previously.
According to him, the best way to deal with livestock losses is on a “case-by-case basis,” and the first step should be to make an effort to prevent wolves from attacking calves by methods that do not include deadly force.
Barnes stated that he does not believe the California Department of Wildlife will resort to using deadly methods to control wolves until they have witnessed attempts made in good faith to prevent conflicts through nonlethal ways.
