As Colorado prepares for the 2025 gray wolf release season, a slate of fresh measures aims to minimize conflicts between wildlife and livestock, and the call is out for producers to engage with the improved Livestock Conflict Minimization Program. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), has been fine-tuning a support system that's both robust and sensitive to the needs of local stakeholders. According to an announcement by CPW Director Jeff Davis, access to a variety of conflict avoidance resources is at the heart of this initiative, aiming to strike a balance between wildlife conservation and agricultural interests.
According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the program includes an array of strategies, like free site assessments tailored to individual farm operations where CPW, CDA, and other agencies collaborate directly with producers, these assessments identify non-lethal tactics that could deter wolves effectively, though they are also actively recruiting for five additional wildlife damage specialist positions to shore up their line-up of personnel skilled in mitigating these conflicts. In addition to staffing enhancements, the partnership has borne fruit in the form of upcoming training for the inaugural Colorado Range Rider program, reflecting a commitment to hands-on, community-based solutions as stated by Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg that the program will "train skilled riders who will work alongside Colorado’s livestock producers to mitigate conflict, expand capacity on the range, and help support resilient ranches." Additionally, CPW is set to release the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Minimization Program Guide this December to provide comprehensive information on conflict prevention and resolution methods.
Engagement with ranchers and community members has also been a recurring theme in the lead-up to the next wolf release, especially following the unique challenges and successes of the initial 2023 release that saw a Copper Creek pack male involved in multiple depredations, yet intervention strategies allowed for the survival of his pups, an outcome Davis described as "remarkable from a biological perspective." Sustained survival rates and active territorial monitoring are noteworthy achievements according to CPW, reinforcing the viability of wolf restoration efforts backed by frequent local interaction and educational workshops that aim to prepare communities for coexistence with the wolves.
The forward momentum of this undertaking, which envisages a series of more informed, more targeted actions in support of coexistence between Colorado's gray wolves and livestock, is evident also in the grant programs and carcass management recommendations that have been shaped by inter-state collaborative learning, demonstrating a multifaceted approach that CPW trusts will serve the dual purpose of conservation and community support, Davis underscored their commitment to the wellbeing of the ranchers, their livestock, and the wolves, expressing confidence in building a sustainable wolf population that integrates smoothly with rural practicums.
