Colorado ranchers can now use artificial light to aid in killing wolves when they’re caught in the act of attacking livestock at night. Previously, ranchers could only use the night-vision technology to conduct hazing that didn’t harm or kill the wolves.
The rules change follows a 6-4 vote by the Parks and Wildlife Commission at its June 13 meeting.
Prior to the change, ranchers were only allowed to kill a wolf if they caught it attacking in daylight, though most wolf attacks occurs at night. So far wolves have killed 11 cows on ranches in Grand and Jackson counties and a calf in Routt County.
A permit is required to kill a wolf caught in the act, but it can be issued retroactively if an applicant can provide evidence meeting the criteria that the wolf was attacking livestock.
Scopes and binoculars with artificial light often are equipped with built-in recording devices which can help provide documentation that a wolf was killed “in-the-act.”
The Parks ad Wildlife Commission also approved a 45-day permit for killing chronically depredating wolves.
Chronic depredation includes documented repeated depredation and harassment of the permit applicant’s livestock or working dogs; use of various nonlethal conflict minimization materials and techniques; likelihood that additional and continued wolf-related depredation would continue if lethal control is or is not implemented; and unintentional or intentional use of attractants that may be luring or baiting wolves to the location.
