CPW has confirmed that a calf was killed in a wolf attack. On the morning of Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. CPW officials received a call about a recently found calf carcass on a ranch in Jackson County. As a result of the call, CPW officials responded to the area to conduct an investigation. The ranch where the reported carcass was found sits within the North Park area.
Once on the scene, CPW officials conducted a field investigation of the area and a necropsy on the carcass. The main goal of the necropsy was to look for pre-mortem wounds. Pre-mortem wounds help investigators determine if the animal in question was killed by predators or just scavenged on by them.
Wolves in Colorado
After performing both tasks, CPW officials confirmed that the calf was killed as a result of a wolf attack. This attack is the first of its kind in Colorado in over 70 years. Wolves have been believed to be removed from the state since sometime in the late 1930s – early 1940s. However, earlier this year we and several other new sites reported on the first breeding pair of wolves in the state. Two wolves migrated into the North Park area from Wyoming and promptly set up a den, soon after pups were discovered by CPW officials. Likewise, the state of Colorado has passed a law that instructs the CPW to build a plan to reintroduce wolves back into the state.
The CPW will handle the reimbursement of the rancher under its current game damage process. This is similar to the way they handle both bear and mountain lion depredations on livestock.
Reimbursement for ranchers is a state statute if an attack occurred on livestock by wildlife.
“CPW is working on draft regulations for the Commission’s consideration on hazing for these naturally migrating wolves in the state. Our goal is to provide producers with resources to minimize the likelihood of conflict or depredation as we work to create a statewide wolf restoration and management program as directed under Proposition 114.” – CPW Director Dan Prenzlow
As a result of the active reintroduction process, wolves are considered a state endangered species. This means wolves may not be taken for any reason other than self-defense.
You can read more about this attack by clicking here, that link will take you to the CPW official report. Likewise, you can read more about the suspected wolf pack by checking out our earlier report of them. You can find that info by clicking here.
