By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice
A calf in Grand County has been killed by a wolf reintroduced to the state, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials confirmed Wednesday.
Following voter approval and much angst from ranchers across the state, CPW officials reintroduced a pack of wolves in December, a process in itself which drew ire from lawmakers and others.
The state agency was contacted April 2 by the rancher related to the calf kill. An investigation confirmed the killing by a wolf, they said, based on “tooth rake” marks left on the hindquarters and neck, and hemorrhaging. Wolf tracks were found nearby the kill. It is unknown how many wolves may have participated in the kill and the identification of the wolf or wolves.
Republican House leadership responded to the news of the calf kill, indicating the state would be liable for the costs of the livestock lost in this and any other kill.
“The decision made by voters, who largely do not have to suffer the ramifications of the reintroduction of wolves, has been devastating to our agricultural producers,” said Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, R-Trinidad. “The burden of paying for lost livestock falls squarely on the shoulders of the state of Colorado and the taxpayers who voted in support of reintroduction.”
Two wolves released into Colorado by CPW were derived from a pack in Oregon known for depridation. The pack killed three livestock animals. It is known that once a pack has started depredating, they likely will return to that behavior in the future, House Republican leadership wrote in a statement.
“Most every cattle rancher in Colorado is calving in the springtime, those baby calves are hitting the ground as we speak every day of the week,” said Minority Whip Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, who operates a cattle feedlot. “Colorado should expect nothing less of apex predators hunting and killing poor, innocent baby calves that are defenseless. It is time for CPW to get out their checkbooks and pay up.”
Last year, Senate Bill 23-256, which would have required federal support of reintroduction, was vetoed by Gov. Jared Polis. It would have allowed ranchers to use lethal force on wolves to protect livestock.
This week, House Bill 24-1375 was killed, a bill which would have made it more difficult for ranchers who lose livestock to be compensated for their losses because of wolf attacks, the Republican leadership noted.