Wolf kills calf in Colorado in first confirmed depredation since animals' reintroduction

A calf was attacked and killed in Colorado, wildlife officials said Wednesday, confirming the first gray wolf depredation since the animals' reintroduction in the state last December.

Wildlife officials received a report on Tuesday morning about a possible depredation incident involving a dead calf in Grand County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a news release. The agency confirmed after a field investigation that the calf's wounds were consistent with a wolf attack and wolf tracks were also found nearby.

"The results of this investigation indicated wounds consistent with wolf depredation," wildlife manager Jeromy Huntington said in a statement Wednesday. "The field investigation found multiple tooth rake marks on the calf's hindquarters and neck, and hemorrhaging under the hide, consistent with wolf depredation."

The agency did not say whether Colorado's reintroduced wolves or the state's remaining members of the North Park pack were responsible for the kill. The North Park wolf pack is known to wander far from its home territory in Jackson County and pack members have been sighted in Grand County in recent years.

While the state can compensate the calf's owner in Tuesday's attack for the animal's fair market value, ranchers have argued that the presence of wolves poses a risk to their livestock.

"The incident, which resulted in the loss of livestock, underscores the ongoing challenges faced by ranchers in managing conflicts between livestock and wildlife," the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association said in a statement Wednesday. "Wolf presence presents significant challenges for ranchers striving to maintain the health and well-being of their livestock."

What's so controversial about wolves?Colorado's gray wolf reintroduction plan

First confirmed wolf depredation since December

Colorado's reintroduced wolves were released in two counties last December, three years after voters narrowly approved a ballot initiative for the wolves' reintroduction. Between Dec. 18 and Dec. 22, wildlife experts released 10 gray wolves onto public land in Summit and Grand counties, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Five wolves were initially released in Grand County after being captured in Oregon, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said. The wolves included two juvenile males, two juvenile females, and one adult male.

Until Tuesday's wolf depredation, there had not been a confirmed depredation of livestock since Dec. 13, 2023, when a Jackson County rancher had a heifer injured. Several Jackson County ranchers have said members of the North Park pack have been wandering among their cattle in recent weeks.

Colorado plans to release up to 50 wolves

Colorado's controversial plan has received widespread opposition from farmers and ranchers, who consider wolves a dangerous threat to wildlife and livestock. Several other states also refused to supply Colorado with wolves, citing concerns over wolf population growth and wolves crossing state borders.

In October 2023, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced a one-year agreement with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to supply the state with gray wolves. Colorado now plans to release up to 50 wolves captured from Oregon.

State officials plan to release dozens of wolves captured from Oregon, with the hopes of creating self-sustaining packs that consist of 150 to 200 animals.

"​It is anticipated that wolf reintroduction efforts will require the transfer of about 30 to 50 wolves in total over a three- to five-year time frame," according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "(Colorado Parks and Wildlife) will aim to capture 10 - 15 wild wolves annually from several different packs."

Contributing: Sarah Kyle and Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan; Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY