Colorado Parks and Wildlife denies Middle Park stockgrowers’ request for chronic depredation permit after 8 sheep killed

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Since wolves were released on the Western Slope, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has confirmed 15 cattle and nine sheep have been killed by wolves. Many of the depredations centered on a single ranch near Kremmling, owned by husband and wife, Conway and Nellie Farrell.
To stop the killing of livestock, the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association requested a chronic depredation permit from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This depredation permit, issued for 45 days, allows producers to protect their herds by killing wolves who are consistent depredators. The stockgrowers requested the permit in May; Parks and Wildlife denied this request July 31.
“CPW’s (Colorado Parks and Wildlife) decision to deny the permit — despite documented and increasingly common depredations — highlights a troubling trend of prioritizing wolves over the legitimate needs and rights of livestock producers,” the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association wrote in an Aug. 14 letter.
This letter was sent to Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis, as well as Gov. Jared Polis. The Middle Park Stockgrowers Association, North Park Stockgrowers Association and Routt County Cattlemen’s Association all signed the letter.
“The protections of depredating apex predators should not come at the expense of livestock producers who have demonstrated a clear and ongoing threat to their livestock and livelihood,” the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association wrote.
Parks and Wildlife denied the Middle Park Stockgrowers’ request days after sheep went missing on the Farrell ranch, according to the letter. On July 28, agency officials confirmed that eight sheep were killed by wolves. Nellie told Sky-Hi News that more than 20 head of sheep are dead or missing. The investigation into the attack is ongoing; the agency stated that officials are still investigating 12 missing sheep.
The cattlemen’s association says that officials confirmed most of the depredations happening in Middle Park “were caused by just two of the approximately 12 gray wolves located in Colorado.”
“If state and federal agencies do not have the capacity to carry out the timely implementation of the necessary lethal control measures, the Division may issue a Chronic Depredation Permit for the lethal take of wolves to a livestock owner (Permit Applicant), consistent with the conditions below. A Chronic Depredation Permit authorizes a holder to injure or kill wolves in the permit area, regardless of whether they are in the act of attacking livestock or working dogs.
A. The Permit Applicant must have suffered at least one wolf depredation of their own livestock or working dogs, and the Division must have confirmed the depredation within 30 days prior to requesting a Chronic Depredation Permit.
B. The Division must determine that the Permit Applicant employed reasonable conflict minimization techniques prior to receiving a Chronic Depredation Permit.
C. The permit may authorize lethal take of wolves only on the Permit Applicant’s private property or on private, state, or federal lands leased for livestock production under a valid lease held by the Permit Applicant.
D. The permit authorizing such activities will contain additional terms and conditions, including a limitation on how many wolves may be taken under the Permit.
E. A Chronic Depredation Permit is valid for a maximum of 45 days. The Division may terminate the Permit at any time once threats to livestock or working dogs have been resolved or minimized. After the initial 45 days, the Permit may be renewed at the Division’s discretion.
F. Death or injury to wolves must be reported to the Division within 24 hours unless impracticable, but in no event later than 72 hours after such death or injury.”
Middle Park stockgrowers sends Parks and Wildlife multiple requests
Since wolves began attacking livestock in April, the Middle Park stockgrowers sent Parks and Wildlife numerous letters requesting help. These requests ranged from lethally removing the two problem wolves, to relocating them to a sanctuary.
The stockgrowers believe that the two wolves are No. 2309, an adult gray male, and No. 2312, a gray yearling female. The stockgrowers also believe this pair produced the first pups in Colorado, which has been named the Copper Creek Pack. Three pups have been spotted recently.
When the stockgrowers requested to have the pair removed in April, Davis responded: “Removing the male breeder at this point would be irresponsible management and potentially cause the den to fail, possibly resulting in the death of the presumed pups.”
The adult male is originally from the Wenaha pack, which has confirmed livestock depredations in Oregon. The female isn’t from a known pack.
Davis didn’t confirm or deny if the female was additionally responsible for depredations.
In May, the stockgrowers requested to receive collar data from these specific wolves, but were denied.
Then the depredation incidents ramped up in July. In that month, Parks and Wildlife confirmed 12 head of livestock died. This included depredations in Grand and Routt counties.
According to the letter by the cattlemen’s association, this does not include undocumented losses or missing livestock ranchers suspect could be wolf related.
The association expressed concern that livestock killing is a learned trait that can be passed generation to generation.
“By refusing to manage problem wolves, CPW (Colorado Parks and Wildlife) has allowed livestock depredations to continue unchecked, while at the same time fostering a pack of depredating wolves,” the association wrote. “Pups from these problem wolves will be trained to ‘hunt’ and survive off livestock.”
Wolves unfazed by nonlethal deterrents
Parks and Wildlife states that chronic depredation permits will not be issued unless the requesters prove they’ve first used nonlethal deterrents. In previous letters, Middle Park stockgrowers documented ranchers use of nonlethal tools, including range riders, fox lights and cracker shells. According to the cattlemen’s association’s letter, Parks and Wildlife denied the permit request because the agency believes ranchers didn’t properly deploy these tools.

The cattlemen’s association was dismayed by this reasoning.
The association wrote that the agency’s denial of the permit was “a blithe dismissal of the extensive time and resources these ranches have invested in using nonlethal measures to protect their livestock.”
While nonlethal tools can prevent livestock depredations, the Middle Park stockgrowers expressed concerns that wolves can learn to outsmart these tools once they realize they won’t be hurt.
“Livestock producers in Middle Park report countless sightings of the two wolves sauntering away from humans yelling or screaming at them,” the cattlemen’s association wrote.
How do Colorado’s wolf depredations compare to Montana?
In its letter, the cattlemen’s association compared Colorado’s depredation numbers to Montana’s.
“In 2023, with an estimated statewide wolf population of 1,096, Montana confirmed the loss of 32 livestock as a result of wolf depredations,” the association wrote, explaining that Montana limited its livestock losses while ensuring the continued viability of its wolf population by lethally removing 31 wolves.
By contrast in Colorado, 24 head of livestock died over a period of about five months — beginning in April after the reintroduction of 10 wolves.
The association questioned if Colorado’s Wolf Management Plan was viable for livestock producers. Although relationships between ranchers and Parks and Wildlife officials is strained, the cattlemen’s association clarified that it remains “committed to working with state agencies to find solutions that protect both wildlife and the livelihoods of livestock producers.”
At the conclusion of the Aug. 14 letter, the association asked for the agency to issue the chronic depredation permit. According to the association, allowing for lethal control when justified would create a more “fair, balanced” plan.
Below is the full text of the letter by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. Parks and Wildlife plans to issue a public response to the Aug. 14 letter, but it was not available by press time.

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