JACKSON COUNTY, Colo. — A calf was killed by a wolf or wolves on a ranch in Jackson County on Saturday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirmed.
Don Gittleson told 9NEWS Tuesday that the calf was killed on his ranch. The incident was reported to CPW, and local staff conducted a field investigation on the property Sunday morning.
The depredation incident was then confirmed on CPW's website, which defines "confirmed wolf depredation" as "physical trauma resulting in injury or death."
The landowner may be eligible for compensation after submitting a claim, but as of Sunday afternoon no claim was submitted.
Gittleson previously told 9NEWS that wolves wandering down from Wyoming have killed or injured at least seven of his animals since 2021. In February of this year, Gittleson told 9NEWS one of his calves had been attacked in December 2023.
After the December incident, Gittleson had asked the state to kill the two wolves. According to rule 10(j), a rancher can kill a wolf if they catch it in the act of attacking livestock. Colorado's wolf management plan also says another reason a wolf can be killed is for chronic depredation. CPW rejected Gittleson's request.
Ten gray wolves were released in Grand and Summit counties in mid-December in accordance with a voter-approved reintroduction program. In addition, Colorado wildlife officials collared two wolves in Jackson County after wolves dispersed to that area on their own in 2021.
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