Multiple calves dead, injured by wolves over Memorial Day: Colorado Cattlemen's Association
DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Cattlemen's Association reported wolf attacks over the Memorial Day weekend at three ranches that left two calves dead and injured others.
The association has been at odds with Colorado Parks and Wildlife regarding the reintroduction of gray wolves to Colorado. The group has repeatedly voiced concerns that the animals would hurt their way of life by killing livestock.
'Wolves don't take a day off': Kremmling ranchers said wolf reintroduction outpaced preparedness
CPW has responded with conflict management grants and programs, including a range rider program that some members of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association have called inadequate. CPW said earlier this month that it has a full staff of range riders and hired 11 contract riders from local communities.
'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, a rancher whose animals were attacked, in the association's announcement. '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.'
FOX31 reached out to CPW for confirmation of the agency's investigation of the possible depredations and received the following statement.
CPW is currently conducting investigations related to recent potential wolf-livestock depredation events in Pitkin County. CPW will provide further information when the investigations are final and has no additional comment at this time.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson
Calving season began in early March, leading to concerned ranchers who are worried that vulnerable calves will be easy meals for wolves and other predators.
The wolf attacks were reported at the Lost Marbles Ranch, Crystal River Ranch and McCabe Ranch, with the Lost Marbles Ranch attack reportedly taking place 'in the heart of the calving grounds.' A calf was injured in the incident.
The association claimed the wolves seen at the Lost Marbles Ranch were of the Copper Creek pack, which were captured in the fall due to ongoing livestock depredations near their den. The pack was re-released at the same time as the new wolves from British Columbia in January.
Wildlife officers investigating wolf death in northwest Colorado
The association also reported a calf that was killed and another injured on the Crystal River Ranch, located west of Highway 133.
'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 in the group's announcement. '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.'
Harrington said that ranchers were promised a partnership, but said the relationship seems neglected.
Free on Your TV • New FOX31+ App for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV
'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,' Harrington said in the release.
The association said that Brad Day, a neighboring rancher, also experienced a calf depredation over Memorial Day weekend, 'in addition to attacks on two animals on May 17. Several more are missing,' the association stated.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Veterans who served our country also deserve a monthlong celebration
While I have no issue recognizing and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, I am wondering why an entire month is set aside each year? After all, we have Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day, and even one day is set aside to celebrate the birth of our country. Why is this particular community worthy of a month long celebration? Surely, veterans who have served or lost their life in service to this country deserve as much as this group. Pam Schuldt, Milwaukee Opinion: We asked readers about wake boats on Wisconsin lakes. Here's what you said. Opinion: Not flying pride flag an act of acquiescence by Wisconsin Historical Society Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why is the LGBTQ+ community worthy of a monthlong celebration?
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Kissler: Will Tariffs Continue to Drive Energy Markets?
In the past, the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftereffects were a major driver influencing global energy markets. However, this year, the tariffs implemented by the U.S. to try to balance global trade supplanted the post-COVID environment as a major influencer. That said, just how much tariffs will continue to impact energy markets depends on a number of variables, such as the tariffs' eventual size and scope. Moreover, in the case of natural gas, other factors—such as weather, travel and the immense power needs of artificial intelligence (AI)—may prove to be larger influencers. In fact, to some extent, the tariffs' impact on energy markets already seems to be dissipating. While sending energy and equity prices reeling the first month of implementation, the tariffs have had seemingly less of an effect on U.S. demand as we have entered middle of the year. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported a record number of travelers in the U.S. going into Memorial Day weekend. However, at the same time, these tariffs have been detrimental to oil demand in Asia, particularly in China, as that region bears most of the tariff burdens. The numbers say it all: Chinese refinery run rates moved well below their five-year averages as crude imports dropped substantially. Crude futures also touched the lowest levels since 2021. Another big factor has been anticipated production increases. OPEC+ has pledged to increase production over the next several months and is estimated to bring back most of the 2 MMbbl/d cuts from the previous years. At the same time, the Trump administration has promised to lower oil prices. Between the Saudi/OPEC production increases and the tariffs' impact on oil markets, that goal may be achieved. On the flip side, the only factors supporting higher oil prices have mostly been geopolitical in nature. These include: the harsh sanctions expected against Iran; the Russia/Ukraine peace talks stalling, which could lead to more sanctions on Russia; and the Israel/Hamas tensions maintaining unrest in the Middle East. Altogether, the real question going forward will be if the seasonal summer travel demand can take up the slack caused by tariffs and OPEC+. The current consensus is that it's not likely, and WTI prices are expected to remain in the $58-$65/bbl area. Of course, many 'what ifs' remain. Partly because of the shift in U.S. presidential administration, green energy is losing its luster. Wind and solar still will be contributing factors, but just not at the subsidized pace seen in the past. That said, there will likely be more solar power sources in the Sunbelt states, and more areas driven by wind-generated power, but now these power sources must be able to stand on their own economically, which should send more demand to the oil and gas sector in the longer term. Shifting focus to natural gas, the expansion of AI and greater demand for LNG will be the major drivers supporting prices. That's as AI expansion is set to double in the next three to five years. It currently pulls 4% of the U.S. power grid, but that figure could move to over 9%. If you add in the expansion of LNG from 11 Bcf/d to 12 Bcf/d of natural gas in the next four to five years, one must wonder where the supply will come from. However, in the near term, weather has been relatively mild so far in 2025, which is pulling less natural gas supplies. That's as current production is in the range of 105.2 to 106 Bcf/d, whereas in 2024, the midyear average production was near the 101 BCF/day. And so, we will need to see some above-average temperatures this summer if we are to see prices comfortably over the $4/MMBtu. While the distant horizon looks bright for natural gas—and likely will be—there is still a lot of time in between. Weather demand will still be a price-driver going forward. As of early June, 2025 has been a bit mild, but weather may change things very quickly.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Wolf pups sighted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff, agency confirms
Colorado wildlife officials have sighted wolf pups. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is monitoring four wolf den sites, spokesperson Travis Duncan told the Coloradoan. The Coloradoan asked where wolf pups were sighted, but Duncan did not include that information. "CPW staff have begun to get minimum counts of pups by both direct observations and indirect methods," Duncan said in an email. "It is important to note that sighting numbers (especially from early season sightings) are not a guaranteed number of animals since certainty in detection is low, based on continued denning, moving to rendezvous sites and being in varied habitat." Five of the 15 wolves captured in British Columbia and released in Colorado in January have died in less than six months after the latest wolf death in the northwest part of the state. The survival rate of 67% falls below the survival rate of 70% outlined in the state's wolf recovery plan. Of the wolves that have died, three were males and two were females. Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently confirmed four wolf attacks on livestock in nine days in Pitkin County in May, prompting the agency to lethally remove a member of the Copper Creek pack. The agency deemed three subsequent livestock deaths on the same ranches "inconclusive." The confirmed depredation spree took place on three ranches approximately 14 miles apart, including one Pitkin County rancher Tom Harrington previously said he was told houses a wolf den with a new litter of pups. One of Harrington's calves was killed May 23 and was among the confirmed wolf kills. Ranchers claim the parents of the litter are the breeding female of the Copper Creek pack and a male from British Columbia. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff sight wolf pups, monitor dens
