Like Oil and Water, Wolves and Livestock Do Not Mix
We’ve all heard the saying, “Their bark is worse than their bite.” For a cattle rancher in Jackson County, Colorado, this is not the case. In recent months, this area has become home to some “new” wildlife, not inhabiting the area for the past 80 years.
Wolves have made their presence known in this Colorado area over the last few years and have wreaked havoc on local animals and livestock in recent weeks. However, the recent uptick in wolf activity only makes sense when looking at history. In the early 1900s, wolves were unprotected. By 1943, the last wolf in Colorado was reportedly killed in Conejos County. Thirty years later, wolves were listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. The wolf population was depleted and essentially non-existent.
Fast forward to 2019, a female wolf fitted with a GPS-tracking collar was confirmed in the Jackson County area and belonged to Wyoming’s Snake River pack. This marked the first wolf sighting in the state in four years. Two years later, in June 2021, Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed the first wolf pups to be born in Colorado in over 80 years. Today, these wolves have denned in the Jackson County area.
Beginning on December 19, 2021, the first confirmed wolf kill of livestock was reported in over 70 years as a calf carcass was discovered. On January 9, 2021, two working cattle dogs (one killed, one injured) made the list. Ten days later, two pregnant heifers were confirmed killed by wolves (one euthanized due to injuries).
Since these wolf killings, the cattle producer who lost the calf and two heifers has searched for ways to protect his livestock from further attacks. Fladry, a thin electric fencing with nylon flags, has been used to help deter wolves from entering his livestock areas. Wolves are often fearful of the flag motion and will receive the shock if they get brave enough to approach the fencing. Unfortunately, fladry is only temporary, as many users have experienced a decrease in effectiveness over time.
As a rather controversial topic, there is no doubt that wolves play a part in the ecosystem, alongside other predatorial animals. However, when the wolves begin to encroach on peoples’ livelihoods, where does the line get drawn?
As a producer in the area, finding solutions to protect livestock may be the best option going forward as the wolf population takes hold. In November 2020, Colorado voters narrowly passed Proposition 114, which calls for the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado no later than the end of 2023. Many details have yet to be determined, including how many wolves will be released and where on the western slope they will be released. Also undetermined at this time is compensation to ranchers for livestock lost to the wolf population. This is a requirement of Proposition 114.
Today, the gray wolf remains a state endangered species and is under the protection of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife.