A group of Colorado’s agricultural and livestock producers are asking the state’s wildlife agency to delay the release of more gray wolves until more proactive measures are taken to prevent livestock-wolf conflict.

A group of 26 organizations filed a petition for rulemaking on Friday, Sept. 27, with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, calling reintroduction efforts “turbulent” so far.

The group includes the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association, the Colorado Farm Bureau, Club 20, the Colorado Wool Growers Association and various other livestock and stockgrower associations. 

The request comes a few weeks after the state agency announced that British Columbia would supply Colorado with the next 15 wolves for the state’s reintroduction efforts. These wolves will be released in Northwest Colorado between December and March. 

However, citing concerns over how Colorado Parks and Wildlife has addressed wolf-livestock conflicts thus far, the petition requests that the agency hold off on this release until specific conflict mitigation strategies are fully funded, developed and implemented. 

“Since the initial introduction of gray wolves as mandated by Proposition 114, conflicts have arisen, particularly in Grand, Jackson and Routt counties, where 24 confirmed livestock deaths have occurred due to wolf depredation in addition to many other missing animals associated with those attacks,” reads the release announcing the petition. “The petitioners argue that (Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s)  current wolf management program has insufficiently addressed these conflicts, and there should have been significantly more outreach and coordination before the initial release.”

In the petition, producers claim that livestock deaths by wolves exceed what has been confirmed. For example, Conway Farrell, a producer in Grand County said his livestock ranch has experienced 15 confirmed depredations but has had 15 additional sheep killed and 25 missing calves. 

The petition makes five specific requests.

First, that Parks and Wildlife clearly define “chronic depredation” and mandate lethal take requirements for wolves that meet that definition. Currently, per the agency’s wolf management plan, chronic depredation is to be determined on a case-by-case basis. It has, however, created an ad-hoc group that among other things, will be providing the commission recommendations on alternative solutions to address these conflicts.

Second, it asks for the agency to proactively develop, test and fund nonlethal methods to prevent livestock killings including fully-funding range riders. So far, Parks and Wildlife has created a grant program with the Colorado Department of Agriculture to provide organizations with up to $20,000 to spend on non-lethal reduction measures. However, producers have indicated this does not go far enough.

Third, the petition asks for the agency to conduct site vulnerability assessments in locations where wolves will be released in the future. These assessments would provide site-specific recommendations for protecting livestock. 

Fourth, it requests that a trained rapid response team should be in places where wolves are preying on livestock to mitigate damages before it is too late.

And lastly, it asks for more transparent communication and consultation with local officials, communities and livestock producers before any future wolf releases. Parks and Wildlife has indicated that it would have more conversations with communities before the reintroduction of additional wolves. 

The group is asking that the Parks and Wildlife Commission take up this petition at its Thursday, Oct. 3 meeting, with the rule formally considered during its November meeting. 

In response to the petition, a Parks and Wildlife spokesperson shared the following statement, “(Colorado Parks and Wildlife) remains committed to upholding the will of Colorado voters and implementing the unanimously approved Gray Wolf Restoration and Management plan and will continue to work with all stakeholders on the plan’s implementation.”

The full list of petitioning organizations includes:

• Middle Park Stockgrowers Association
• Colorado Cattlemen’s Association
• Club 20
• Colorado Farm Bureau
• Colorado Wool Growers Association
• Middle Park Cowbelles
• Holy Cross Cattlemen’s Association
• Routt-Moffat Wool Growers Association 
• Holy Cross Cattlewomen’s Association
• North Park Stockgrowers Association
• North Thompson Cattle Association
• Farm Bureau of Middle Park
• Coal Basin Cattle Association
• Routt County Cattlemen’s Association
• Eagle County Farm Bureau
• Western Slope Wool Growers Association 
• Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel Farm Bureau Board 
• La Plata Archuleta Cattlemen’s Association 
• Rio Blanco Wool Growers Association 
• Delta County Livestock Association 
• Gunnison County Stockgrowers’ Association 
• Rio Blanco Stockgrowers Association 
• Moffat County Cattlemen’s Association
• Garfield County Farm Bureau 
• Uncompahgre Cattlemen’s Association 
• Mesa County Cattlemen’s Association