Colorado Parks and Wildlife has confirmed that an uncollared wolf killed a cow in Jackson County on February 5. This incident marks at least the 18th reported killing of livestock in the area since 2021. Ranchers who have lost animals to wolves can file compensation claims with the state. The depredation is believed to have been committed by a wolf not part of the Colorado reintroduction effort and not collared in the North Park area.
Last year, at least a dozen cattle, mostly calves, were killed by wolves in Grand, Jackson, and Routt counties. The killings in Grand and Routt counties have been tied to the reintroduced wolves brought to Colorado from Oregon by CPW in December 2023. Some of those Oregon wolves had a history of killing livestock, despite initial promises from CPW that this would not be the case.
Ranchers have filed claims with the state for over $581,000 for lost livestock and lower weight cattle in 2023, far exceeding the amount set aside by the General Assembly for such claims. Wolf reintroduction has been controversial, with voters approving it in 2020 with support mainly from Front Range voters, while Western Slope counties where wolves have been relocated voted against it.
A measure to repeal the law allowing wolf reintroduction is currently underway, with a hearing scheduled this week to determine the fate of the program. The measure proposes to end reintroductions on December 31, 2026, raising questions about the future of already reintroduced wolves in Colorado.
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