‘Wolves don't take a day off': Kremmling ranchers said wolf reintroduction outpaced preparedness
KREMMLING, Colo. (KDVR) — As Colorado's wolf reintroduction program expands, ranchers said they're still waiting for critical protections to catch up.
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Tim Ritschard, president of the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association and a fifth-generation rancher in Kremmling, said his operation has already felt the effects.
'We had a wolf go through in February — right behind my house,' Ritschard told FOX31.
While state officials said they've now fully staffed the 'range rider' program meant to deter wolf attacks and assist with herd monitoring, Ritschard said it's too little, too late.
'If we would have had these range riders in place two years ago, we wouldn't be dealing with as many depredations as we are today,' he said.
He's one of several voices calling for a temporary pause in additional wolf releases until carcass management, rapid response teams and other support systems are fully operational.
'That's why we filed this petition in September, because now we are catching up,' Ritschard said.
He also expressed frustration with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and said many ranchers have lost trust in the agency.
'We were seeing wolves on the ground before CPW was telling us,' he said.
Ritschard said the ripple effects go beyond ranching, affecting local businesses and hunting outfitters in the region.
'Some of the businesses in town I talked to last fall… it was the worst hunting season we have ever had,' he said.
Still, Ritschard emphasized that ranchers see themselves as stewards of the land and part of Colorado's conservation legacy.
'We're providing food to the American people,' he said. 'We graze on public land, and we're helping prevent wildfires.'
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife commented on the wolf reintroduction program.
'We are confident we will be successful restoring a healthy, sustainable population of gray wolves to Colorado as mandated, while minimizing impacts to our critical ranching industry and rural communities,' said CPW.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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