Colorado group takes first step in ballot attempt to repeal wolf reintroduction program

[parshal]

I wondered the exact same thing. I'd suspect they would have seen it when initially captured unless it was such a superficial wound that it could only be seen when the animal was cut apart.

 

[blicero]

Rumor is that the next batch of wolves is imminent and most likely going into Pitkin County WSW of Snowmass on private land.

Aspen voted for them, Aspen can have them IMO.

 

[TXCO]

Gonna be tough but good luck. Glad to see someone taking the offensive for once!


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[wapitibob]

Finally, somebody on the hunting side stepped up to use a ballot initiative. I'll send these guys money.

 

[WTFJohn]

They're now reporting that two of the three dead wolves had been shot. 2309-OR from the Copper Creek pack that's the one being widely reported and 2307-OR.

"A second reintroduced wolf, known as 2307-OR, died in Grand County as a result of a fight with another wolf, but USFWS necropsy also found the animal had an “old, healed gunshot wound to its rear leg."

Given that hunting at night with thermals is legal in CO on private land, it's entirely possible these animals were mistaken for coyotes. I mean, we can't tell the difference between a coyote and gray fox in our thermals. Even though there's a dramatic difference in size between a gray fox and coyote they really don't look that different in a thermal. If we saw a wolf in a thermal it's probable we'd think it's a coyote. That's now not out of the realm of possibility out here in Elbert County. Wait until the general public understands that people hunt with thermals and that's gonna be huge news with wolf reintroductions.

We got the rule changed last summer to allow lethal take with artificial light, night vision, and thermal; and it made the news rounds then. It brought policy inline with other predators, and allowed us (ranchers) to use appropriate tools for the conditions. We had to fight to keep recording thermal devices from being mandatory in order to allow for lethal take when a wolf is 'caught in the act'. There is an astounding lack of knowledge of current hunting regulations across the board, from Wildlife Commission members to the general public.

I am leery of the gunshot stories as well, as a wound that was bad enough to kill should not have taken this long to be released as the cause of death; and per a CPW DWM shortly after the capture & death of the two males both seemed to be more torn up from fighting. My understanding is upon death, they become property of USFWS and the investigation is handled completely them, not CPW.

This picture is recent, but has been what we've dealt with for over a year now. Every day, every night, every single time you go check a herd or go try to get a count. We have lighter weaning weights, lower pregnancy rates, good mature cows missing on summer range, calves gone without a trace.

The $581,000 in claims this year is going to be a drop in the bucket once more people are in the depredation pool.

 

[parshal]

Do the reimbursement rules pay for low weights and birth rate? It's clear that's a result of predators but I've been curious if it's in the rules. Sure hope it won't be years of arguing.

I'm less than 9 miles from Elbert which is the closest town to where the wolf was trapped and llama was killed out here on the plains. I'm waiting for the same tracks to show up since everyone has farm animals around here. The neighbor has 50 cows which will calve this spring.

 

[WTFJohn]

Do the reimbursement rules pay for low weights and birth rate? It's clear that's a result of predators but I've been curious if it's in the rules. Sure hope it won't be years of arguing.

I'm less than 9 miles from Elbert which is the closest town to where the wolf was trapped and llama was killed out here on the plains. I'm waiting for the same tracks to show up since everyone has farm animals around here. The neighbor has 50 cows which will calve this spring.

Once you have suffered a depredation event, you are eligible to claim line item losses for various things if you have the historical herd data for your program to back it up. It is a convoluted process, to say the least, and we expect almost every claim to require a fight (especially since this years total is $200k+ over what they have on hand for reimbursements).