Recent gray wolf attacks on livestock in two northern Colorado counties were expected. Predation by carnivores is well known, and ranchers already deal with livestock predation by bears, cougars and coyotes know what other factors mean when they lose livestock. Disease, weather and calving problems also take a toll each year.
But the damage caused by wolves and other predators takes a toll on individual ranchers.
How prepared we are for wolves is up for debate. Many in the Western Slope have denounced the secrecy surrounding the release of wolves, which they say violates their trust, and have criticized Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) for choosing wolves from packs familiar to Oregon livestock. The recent attacks have left some Colorado producers feeling betrayed and calling for the culling of problem wolves.
However, CPW staff, wildlife conservationists and ranchers have been working on wolf management since before the CPW Commission approved the Wolf Management Plan, and have been working with Colorado ranchers by providing information, conflict prevention tools, funding and other assistance.
Wolf advocates and ranchers may not seem like allies at first glance, but together we embody the possibilities that come from cooperation rather than conflict. A promising path is emerging that reflects the joint efforts of livestock farmers, CPW and wolf advocates and will contribute to the successful recovery and management of gray wolves in Colorado.
For example, in North Park, the diverse community has come together to set up conflict prevention tools such as brightly-flag-lined fradleys and provide other support to individual ranchers:We have hammered poles into snow-covered fields and set up fradleys to support landowners and hopefully encourage tolerance.
What unites us is a shared desire to embrace the opportunities that exist to support ranch life and build community during and after calving season. What unites us is mutual respect and a belief in collaboration. This unique effort of various stakeholders working together to foster goodwill and trust may seem extraordinary, but the kindness and compassion should come as no surprise to anyone.
Ranchers and wolf conservationists want to minimize livestock losses, and building tolerance now is essential to give wolves the opportunity to fulfill their ecological role while working with ranchers to protect dwindling wild areas.
Viewing these depredations as an opportunity rather than a disaster means we can prepare for the long-term presence of wolves in Colorado. We need to build our community around the common goal of minimizing conflicts with livestock and focus on programs that prevent conflicts.
In 2023, CPW installed more than five miles of fringe fences in four locations, installed foxlights on eight properties, used cracker shells to scare off wolves in North Park, and held more than 10 meetings with producers and the public dedicated to conflict mitigation.
So far this year, CPW has installed more than five miles of fox traps on four properties, installed 60 fox hunting lights in 13 locations, installed 10 scare devices, issued four harassment permits and equipped four depots statewide with collision mitigation tools. Four more depots are expected to be added by the fall. CPW is also hiring a statewide wildlife collision coordinator.
Other groups are also participating, including the Colorado Department of Agriculture, USDA Wildlife Service, Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, Defenders of Wildlife, Working Circle, Western Landowners Alliance and other nonprofits. The Rocky Mountain Wolf Project has already raised more than $260,000 through its “Born to Be Wild” special license plates and is raising funds to provide ranchers with tools and expertise to reduce conflicts with wolves. Grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service will be made available to support ranch riding, carcass management and electric fencing programs across the state.
An increasing number of ranchers are taking steps to minimize conflicts. These include range management, low-stress herding, horseback riding, fradleys, nighttime fencing, and livestock guard dogs. Ranchers do not need to be victims or helpless bystanders. These measures require effort, but serious effort is all we can ask of them as we learn to coexist with wolves.
Defining Success Through Collaboration Moving forward with our wolf management plan provides a roadmap for successful management of all wildlife species. There are many people across the state who are willing to collaborate, so let’s start telling the good stories.
Such cooperation could be the beginning of much-needed mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance between wolves and humans.
Philip Anderson of Walden is a past president of the Colorado Ranchers Association and lives on his family’s ranch.
Courtney Vail of Rico is a small ranch co-owner and wildlife biologist who serves on the board of directors for the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project.
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