Colorado greenlights lethal management of gray wolves

Ranchers across Western Colorado breathed a collective sigh of relief Thursday as the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission approved new regulations allowing the lethal management of wolves that decimate livestock. The committee’s decision was subsequently resolved by a vote of 6 to 4 a public meeting in Grand County, and it marks a major shift in how the state is trying to manage its newly recovered gray wolf population, which grew from two to 12 animals over the winter after 10 gray wolves were released in Grand County and Summit Counties as part of a voter campaign. guided reintroduction effort.

Colorado’s ballot-led reintroduction of wolves proved controversial from the start, as many residents of Colorado’s Western Slope, where the wolves were released and now live, voted against it. And even before the release in December, rural Coloradans had asked the state how they planned to deal with wolves killing cows and other livestock. These calls only grew louder this spring during calving season, when the number of cows killed by gray wolves in Colorado rose from one calf on April 2 to eight cattle by the end of that month. Between December and June 17 Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed 11 livestock depredations by gray wolves in Grand and Jackson counties, although some ranchers say the actual number is even higher.

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So far, CPW has prohibited ranchers and their agents from killing or harming gray wolves within the state — even those found to be depredating livestock. Instead, the organization has instructed farmers to use non-lethal management tools such as lighting, fladry, guard dogs and rangers to deter the predators. However, under new regulations just approved by commissioners, wildlife managers and ranchers will be able to kill predatory wolves under certain circumstances. In some circumstances, thermal imaging cameras, night vision and other artificial lights can be used to kill wolves.

“I think it’s a step in the right direction to regain trust,” said Grand County Commissioner Merrit Linke Colorado politics and the Denver Gazette. “It is a victory that the commission is giving us the resources and staff.”

below the new rulesColorado ranchers can obtain an “In the Act” permit from CPW to kill a gray wolf caught attacking livestock or working dogs (but not other pets or hunting dogs) on their land. CPW can issue these permits retroactively, as long as the farmer provides the appropriate evidence to the agency and reports the killing within 72 hours.

“Acceptable physical evidence includes, but is not limited to, photographs or videos with associated GPS coordinates,” the rules state.

The new rules also establish a system for issuing chronic depredation permits to ranchers who have documented repeated depredations and harassment of their livestock by wolves. To qualify, a rancher must demonstrate that he has attempted to use a variety of nonlethal means to minimize conflict with wolves, and that he has not intentionally or unintentionally lured wolves with bait or other attractants. They must also prove that the looting is likely to continue without lethal management. Interestingly, the CPWC has not included a definition of “chronic depredation” in the regulations, saying these permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis.

This important detail could become a point of contention in the future, and a CPW spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on how these permits will be issued. However, the agency told the newspaper Denver Post Monday that these decisions will be directed to the Colorado Wolf Restoration Temporary Working Group, which was formed by CPW on June 13, just one day before Thursday’s committee vote.

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The names of the people assigned to that task force have not been released. But the After reports that the group will include a hired mediator, along with four ranchers, four wolf advocates and four representatives from CPW and the state Department of Agriculture. The group will meet this summer to discuss these and other controversial issues related to lethal management, and the clock is ticking to iron out the details. CPW public information officer Rachael Gonzalez confirmed this Living outside in an email, the new lethal take rules will go into effect on August 1.