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a day ago
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Colorado Confirms Multiple Wolf Pup Sightings
Wolf pups have been spotted in Pitkin County, Colorado, according to several sources, including a rancher whose calf was attacked by wolves this spring. Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed that it has seen pups in an emailed statement to Outdoor Life, and that their employees are continuing to monitor four den sites. 'CPW staff have begun to get minimum counts of pups by both direct observations and indirect methods,' the spokesperson wrote. '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.' The agency declined to provide a specific pup count, and did not reply to a request for clarification on whether or how they're using trail cameras to monitor the pups. CPW also did not specify the county or counties of the den sites. But a Pitkin County rancher says at least some wolf pups are denning a quarter mile from his cows, according to the Colorado Sun, and that CPW officials are planning to use strategically placed roadkill to draw wolves away from his vulnerable new calves. One of the rancher's calves was attacked by a wolf over Memorial Day weekend, and he suspects the nearby pups are part of the Copper Creek Pack. On May 29 CPW officials euthanized a gray wolf from the Copper Creek Pack that had been chronically preying on livestock in Pitkin County. The Copper Creek Pack was trapped in the fall after multiple depredation incidents in another county, and ultimately released again in January. Fifteen wolves were captured in British Columbia and released in Pitkin and Eagle counties around the same time. The rancher, Mike Cerveny, is one of many stockgrowers frustrated by the way the reintroduction has threatened his livelihood. Cerveny told the Sun that he's not anti-wolf, 'just like I'm not an anti-crocodile or anti-hippo guy. Like, everything has its own area and place to be where they thrive. But do I think wolves should be dropped off in the freaking first week of January, when it's 20 below, next to my cows? Uh, no. I think this is the dumbest thing in the world.' While CPW has not yet released any formal statements about this year's pups, the agency has been publicizing its efforts to raise funding for non-lethal wolf mitigation through its speciality license program. On Tuesday the agency reported that selling some 18,000 'Born to Be Wild' vehicle license plates has raised almost $950,000 for conflict mitigation. Read Next: Colorado Officials Euthanize 'Chronic' Problem Wolf That Was Killing Livestock 'This special license plate allows Colorado residents to support ranchers by providing funding to CPW for non-lethal conflict minimization tools and programs and programs,' said CPW Director Jeff Davis. 'The hope is that this program will get the public engaged and increase overall sales of the license plate, in turn reducing impacts with livestock. These efforts help support the implementation of the state's Wolf Restoration and Management Plan and CPW's implementation of the state statute to restore a self-sustaining gray wolf population, all while supporting rural ways of life and the robust livestock industry that is such a critical component of Colorado's culture and economy.' Funds raised through the program include support for the state's range rider program, where riders on horseback or four-wheelers patrol livestock areas and haze wolves as necessary. In March, Colorado nearly drained its depredation compensation fund when it approved $343,000 in livestock losses.
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28-05-2025
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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.
