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Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), reports that with technical support from federal partners, and as provided for in the 10(j) experimental population rule issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), have begun an operation to capture and relocate wolves from the depredating Copper Creek wolf pack.
The Copper Creek pack is in Grand County, Colorado, which has seen the greatest loss of sheep and cattle since these wolves were reintroduced just eight months ago. Although CPW is loath to give exact details on wolf locations and/or depredation, according to CPW’s wolf depredation report it appears at least 16 cattle and sheep have been confirmed to have been killed by wolves, many of them Grand County. The most recent incident occurred on 28 July involving eight sheep and is still being investigated.
We should also remember that these wolves were brought in from Oregon after Wyoming, Montana and Idaho refused to participate in Colorado’s reintroduction program. And some of these wolves had previously been involved in killing cattle in Oregon. Since being reintroduced, the number of wolves in the Copper Creek Pack has grown when an adult pair mated and produced a “yet to be substantiated” number of pups last spring. Are these wolf pups also learning how to kill livestock from the adult wolves in their pack … probably.
“The decision to capture and relocate the Copper Creek pack was made with the careful consideration of multiple factors and feedback from many different stakeholders,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis. ”Our options in this unique case were very limited, and this action is by no means a precedent for how CPW will resolve wolf-livestock conflict moving forward. The ultimate goal of the operation is to relocate the pack to another location while we assess our best options for them to continue to contribute to the successful restoration of wolves in Colorado.”
CPW doesn’t intend to share the location of the relocated wolf pack, “For the safety of these animals and staff”. Once relocated, it’s unknown whether or not the wolves will stay put or simply head back to where they were trapped in Grand County.
The definition of insanity – repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results… Am I wrong?
Does this really surprise anyone at all?!
As an Arizona Resident & hunter for over 60 years, I believe the introduction of wolves & grizzly bears into our hunting areas will be the final nail in the coffin for hunting. The liberal pita’s have finally won the battle. We will still be able to hunt, but there will be no game available after these beasts kill all of the game in the forests. My twin boys will still be alive to see the end of all hunting in America & that scares the H out of me.
It was a bad idea to force the wolves on us in Wyoming and it’s a bad idea to do the same thing in Colofornia. Liberal transplants have no business voting on wildlife decisions, leave that to the biologists.
I never understood why wolves and grizzly bears were brought back to these areas….deer and elk can be regulated perfectly by sportsman keeping numbers in check