Bipartisan effort would improve compensation to ranchers that lose livestock to wolves

From New Mexico Political Report:

A bill that would provide state money to compensate ranchers for direct and indirect losses of livestock to Mexican wolves received unanimous support from the Senate Conservation Committee on Tuesday and an identical one passed the House Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources Committee.

SB 26 and HB 164 would appropriate $9 million to an existing fund to compensate ranchers for livestock killed by Mexican wolves. It specifies that the available federal funding must be used prior to dipping into the state funds. It also requires that the New Mexico Department of Agriculture determine or confirm that wolves killed the livestock and that the amount ranchers receive be based on fair market values, which are determined quarterly by New Mexico State University.

 

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New data from Colorado Parks and Wildlife informs residents on areas inhabited by wolves

From Sky High News:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently published a map on its website that informs residents, recreationists and livestock producers on where wolves have been recorded over the past month.

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Washington’s wolf-killing policy gets fresh attention in Olympia

From Oregon Capital Chronicle:

Ranchers have long argued that Washington laws should give them more flexibility and authority to kill wolves that threaten or attack livestock on their property.

They’re welcoming a new bill heard last week at the state Legislature that would do just that. The legislation would set up a three-year pilot program to allow owners of animals like cattle and sheep to kill a wolf the first time it returns to their land following a run-in with livestock.

 

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Colorado won’t release more wolves until December, wildlife officials say

From Colorado Newsline:

The inaugural “capture season” in Colorado’s ambitious program to reintroduce gray wolves to the wild is officially over, state officials said Friday.

A total of 10 wolves were captured in Oregon by Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff, airlifted to Colorado and released in Grand and Summit counties last month, fulfilling the first step in a reintroduction plan mandated by a voter-approved 2020 ballot measure. No further releases will occur until at least December of this year, CPW officials said.

 

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife announces plans to release up to 15 more wolves

From Vail Daily:

Up to 15 wolves could be coming to Colorado next year, according to a news release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

In an agreement announced Friday, Jan. 19, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation will be the source of up to 15 wolves for the Colorado gray wolf reintroduction effort, the release states. To date, 10 wolves have been released in Colorado.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife plans to capture the wolves from the Confederated Tribes on tribal land sometime between December 2024 and January 2025, according to the news release. The Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan sets a goal of translocating 10-15 gray wolves per capture season for a total of 30-50 wolves.

 

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Colorado secures next wolf supply source from tribes in another Pacific Northwest state

From Greeley Tribune:

Native American tribes in eastern Washington will supply up to 15 wolves to Colorado next winter under an agreement announced Friday that marks a major step forward for the state’s reintroduction efforts.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the agreement with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation will allow state wildlife officials to capture wolves on the tribes’ land from December through March 2025. Last month, CPW released the first 10 wolves, captured in neighboring Oregon, as part of a plan to reintroduce up to 50 of the apex predators to the state in coming years.

 

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Colorado ranchers fear decimation as wolves roam Western Slope

From The Denver Gazette:

Don Gittleson, a rancher from Walden, Colorado, was out in the pasture in a noisy diesel pickup truck one night when he heard a disturbing noise at the far end of his herd.

His truck’s lights were on.

He drove toward the noise and, to his horror, saw three wolves attacking a calf.

 

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Washington leaders try to find solutions for wolf depredations and killing of wolves

From Northwest Public Broadcasting:

Some ranchers are saying it is time to find creative ways to deal with wolf attacks on livestock. That’s what a new bill in the Washington state Senate hopes to do – to the frustration of some wildlife rights groups.

A big goal of Senate Bill 5939 is to lethally remove wolves that chronically attack livestock. Right now, ranchers say current methods – with all the paperwork and decisions – are like disciplining your pet, days later. The wolves don’t understand why they are being targeted.

 

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Ranchers say relationships ruined with wildlife officials since wolves reintroduced

From KUSA News:

KREMMLING, Colo. — One month ago, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) reintroduced wolves in Colorado. CPW released the first wolves into Grand County, and since then ranchers tell us they have received almost no communication about the apex predators.

“Really haven’t heard much from CPW, mostly it’s just been locals and local sightings,” said Tim Ritschard, a fifth-generation rancher in Grand County.

 

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Washington leaders try to find solutions for wolf depredations and killing of wolves

From KUOW:

Some ranchers are saying it is time to find creative ways to deal with wolf attacks on livestock. That’s what a new bill in the Washington state Senate hopes to do – to the frustration of some wildlife rights groups.

A big goal of Senate Bill 5839 is to lethally remove wolves that chronically attack livestock. Right now, ranchers say, current methods – with all the paperwork and decisions – are like disciplining your pet, days later. The wolves don’t understand why they are being targeted.

 

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