Colorado ranchers' wolf kill claims balloon after state's first

Colorado’s cost to compensate ranchers for wolf depredations is expected to far exceed what was budgeted in 2024, the first year after the predator was reintroduced into the state.

The bill that created the Wolf Depredation and Compensation Fund set aside $525,000 — $175,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 and $350,000 in fiscal year 2024-25 — for livestock killed and injured by wolves, conflict minimization and program management.

A letter sent by the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association to Colorado Parks and Wildlife commissioners Tuesday stated three ranchers alone in Grand County have depredation claims totaling more than $575,000 in 2024.

Of the 26 livestock confirmed to have been killed or injured by wolves statewide from April 2 to Sept. 9, only two claims had been submitted and received compensation as of Dec. 31. Those involved two cattle and totaled just over $2,600, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s wolf depredation report.

Another depredation was confirmed earlier in the year, but that wolf wandered into the state from the from the Great Lakes wolf population and wasn’t part of the reintroduction or the state’s North Park pack. The state paid out $1,200 for the depredation of a llama in Elbert County in March.

Ranchers have until the end of the year to submit claims for 2024, so total compensation claims could soar with so many outstanding claims.

“We don’t think the agency recognizes what is happening on the ground, which is why we filed the petition to pause the next round of wolf releases,” Tim Ritschard, Grand County rancher and president of the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association, told the Coloradoan on Tuesday. “We will have more wolves on the ground before they see all the claims. Hopefully the letter will raise some eyebrows on the commission.”

The commission meets Jan 8-9. While a wolf update and a petition to pause the next round of wolf releases are on the agenda, compensation specifically is not. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has recommended denial of the petition, which was submitted by a group of 26 organizations — largely comprised of livestock producers — on Sept. 27. The next round of wolf releases are expected to begin as early as next week.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Travis Duncan said if the planned funding does not cover ranchers’ wolf compensation requests, the deficit will be covered from the same sources as the $525,000. That includes the state’s general fund, species conservation trust fund, Colorado nongame conservation and wildlife restoration cash funds and wildlife cash fund, excluding money within the wildlife cash fund generated from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses.

One Grand County rancher will submit wolf depredation claim of nearly $422,000

The Farrell Ranch near Kremmling in Grand County has by far the largest compensation claim at $422,000. Conway Farrell said his family ranch had nine sheep and six cattle confirmed to have been killed by wolves and is missing 14 sheep and 88 calves, compared to an average of 23 calves missing each of the three previous years.

Another ranch in Grand County is requesting nearly $100,000 in compensation.

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“We shouldn’t have to wait around for months for the wildlife commission to decide on compensation, which is why we are sending the letter to them,” Farrell told the Coloradoan. “That’s a lot of money to have out there for ranchers.”

Farrell submitted his ranch’s depredation claim Dec. 14.

The state’s wolf recovery plan allows for ranchers with a confirmed wolf depredation to also be compensated for missing livestock and lower pregnancy and weight rates of livestock, compared to the three previous years, due to stress by wolves.

Ranchers are required to provide such information to Colorado Parks and Wildlife for examination. The agency then submits the claim to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, which votes on the compensation claims.

Farrell told the Coloradoan he also lost $140,000 in outfitting money because he was not allowed to bring in elk and deer hunters to the ranch in September while Colorado Parks and Wildlife and federal agencies conducted a capture and removal operation of the Copper Creek pack from Aug. 5 to Oct. 4.

Farrell said he should be compensated for that loss, citing a letter he received from Colorado Parks and Wildlife that read, “all costs associated with this operation of will be borne by CPW/USDA Wildlife Services.”

The Copper Creek pack, including the breeding male and female and four pups, was removed and placed in a holding facility in Colorado after repeated depredations on Farrell’s ranch. The breeding male died several days after being captured from injuries not related to the trapping, the state wildlife agency previously said. A fifth pup was later discovered but evaded capture.

The wildlife agency previously said it will re-release the female and the four captured pups with up to 15 wolves that will be captured in British Columbia and released in Colorado between January and March.

Colorado released the first 10 wolves of its reintroduction program into Grand and Summit counties in late December of 2023. Of the 26 confirmed wolf depredations from April 2 to Sept. 9, 2024, 18 were in Grand County and four each were in adjacent Routt and Jackson counties.

The state’s wolf recovery plan was finalized May 3, 2023, and established its current compensation format.

In 2023, ranchers received $15,489 in wolf depredation compensation for three sheep and a working cattle dog, the latter which accounted for the maximum allowed for an individual livestock — $15,000.

In 2022, ranchers received just more than $22,600 in compensation for 14 confirmed depredations.

How Colorado’s wolf depredation compensation costs compare to other states

States differ in formulas used to compensate ranchers for wolf depredations, so comparing one state to another is not directly apples to apples.

Here is a look at the number of wolves, number of livestock killed by wolves and compensation for those claims for various western states, according to state annual reporting:

Oregon: At least 178 wolves reported in 2023, and the state paid $477,661 for 93 confirmed and probable depredations. No missing livestock claims were fulfilled.
Washington: At least 260 wolves in 2023, and the state paid $28,596 for 23 confirmed or probable depredations.
Wyoming: At least 352 wolves in 2023, and the state paid $270,710 for 49 confirmed depredations.
Montana: Around 1,100 wolves, and the state paid $42,842 for 32 confirmed depredations.
Idaho: Estimated 1,150 wolves, and the state paid $26,000 for 85 livestock losses.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado rancher says state owes him nearly $562K for wolf damages

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