Wolf collar 'pings' at mountain resort in Colorado as some ask for 'lethal' response to killings

A total of six cattle – calves and yearlings – have been killed by wolves in Colorado over the past 16 days, with livestock growers now pushing for lethal management of the recently reintroduced species. By law, lethal force against wolves is only allowed in approved scenarios where chronic depredation is taking place, but chronic depredation remains undefined in official terms, thus this approach cannot be pursued.

According to Marianne Goodland with the Denver Gazette, the request for lethal management stems from concerns of chronic depredation is indeed occuring, with two specific wolves being blamed for five of the recent livestock killings in three separate events. It's also worth noting that these kills are taking place during calving season, which is a crucial time of the year for livestock producers.

Livestock producers have also been critical of Colorado Parks and Wildlife for including wolves from Oregon packs known for chronic depredation in the voter-mandated reintroduction effort.

Goodland also reports that one of the tracking collars on a wolf sent out a 'ping' from the Snow Mountain Ranch area this month, which is a popular mountain resort in Granby that's home to the YMCA of the Rockies and a place that's frequently visited by children year-round. While wolves are known to avoid human contact, this ping may stoke fears of a human-wolf interaction taking place.

Read a more in-depth report about the wolf at the mountain resort and lethal wolf management here from Marianne Goodland with the Denver Gazette.