DENVER (KDVR) — Some of Colorado’s livestock producers have renewed their plea to Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Kill the wolves in Grand and Jackson counties that have killed ranchers’ cattle.
Several groups wrote letters this week to CPW officials and Gov. Jared Polis asking that the known wolves depredating Colorado ranches be lethally removed. Depredations occur when a predator “plunders” or preys upon a farmer’s crop. In Grand and Jackson counties, wolves were depredating sheep and cattle.
8 sheep killed by wolves in Grand County, one of largest attacks reported: CPW
Ranchers first asked for the wolves to be lethally removed in April. There were s ix depredation events recorded by CPW in April alone, involving four calves and four cattle. Two claims were received, and one was paid out: $1,514 for one calf killed by the reintroduced wolves. The funding provides farmers the “fair market value” of their crops when destroyed by a state-managed initiative.
The joint letter, sent Wednesday by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, the North Park Stockgrowers Association, the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association and the Routt County Cattlemen’s Association, highlighted what the groups called a “lack of balanced management” and “concerns over nonlethal measures and attractants.”