Let’s tell the truth about those big, bad wolves

The return of wolves to the West has always been contentious, and the deaths last fall of more than 40 cattle really in western Colorado alarmed ranchers. But here’s the true story: Wolves did not kill those cattle found dead near Meeker.

After months of investigation, the state agency, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, found no evidence of wolves in the area at all.

Yet when the news of the cattle deaths went public last October, the agency issued a press release stating it was “investigating a report of dead domestic cow calves on White River National Forest lands near Meeker that show damage consistent with wolf depredation.”

A month later, the agency’s Northwest regional manager testi ed before the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission that though some of the cattle had injuries that appeared to come from wolves, he added: “It’s perplexing; it’s confusing; it’s frustrating, trying to gure out exactly what occurred in this incident.” e story of wolves as the culprits, however, made national headlines.

Wolves are coming back to the state naturally and because in 2020, the public passed Prop 114, mandating restoration of wolves by the end of this year. rough a Colorado Open Records Act request, the Humane Society of the United States

Story Warren

obtained documents and photos about the livestock deaths, and shared them with Carter Niemeyer, an expert on wolf-livestock con ict. He is also a member of the state’s Technical Working Group on wolf restoration.

In his Feb. 14 report, Niemeyer found that “the evidence at Meeker is inconsistent with wolf attacks.” Niemeyer and veterinarians concluded that the cattle more likely died from “brisket disease,” which commonly a icts cattle living at high altitudes.

Misunderstandings like this one, which lasted weeks, aren’t helpful. Do wolves ever come into con ict with livestock? Yes, but it is relatively rare. In the Northern Rockies where wolves are established, they account for less than 1% of cattle losses. Disease, birthing problems, weather and theft take nine times as many cattle than all predators combined, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In Washington state, which is home to at least 33 wolf packs after nearly 15 years of wolf recovery, more than 80% of the packs have no

Thu 3/30

Featured

Sun 4/02

Featured

Joslyn & The Sweet

Compression: Cervantes @ 7pm Cervantes' Master‐piece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Michelle DeYoung @ 7:30pm Gates Concert Hall, Denver

Scott Fowler Music: Scott FowlerSofar Sounds @ 7:30pm Sofar Sounds, Denver

Sub Focus @ 8pm Ogden Theatre, 935 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Fri 3/31

Featured Featured

Eli & Fur @ 8pm The Church Denver, 1720 S Alcott St, Den‐ver

Sat 4/01

Ryan Hutchens at Culinary Dropout @ 11am Culinary Dropout, 4141 E 9th Ave, Denver

Neil Z @ 12pm

SOL Mexican Cocina | Cherry Creek, 200 Columbine St #110, Denver

Melvin Seals and JGB @ 6pm So Many Roads Brewery, 918 W 1st Ave, Denver

Mon 4/03

Featured

Aly & AJ @ 6pm

Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St, Denver

Jeffrey Dallet @ 3pm Village at Belmar, 7825 W Alameda Ave, Lakewood

René Moffatt Music: René Moffatt at The Molecule Effect @ 7pm

The Molecule Effect, 300 S Logan St Unit 101, Denver

Coastless Creatives Presents:

Jaguar Stevens and Friends @ 8pm The Black Buzzard, 1624 Market St, Den‐ver

Part Weapon: The Lion's Lair @ 9pm Lion's Lair, 2022 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Denver Makers Market @ Lakewood Casa

Bonita Parking Lot @ 10am / Free

Denver Makers Market @ Casa Bonita, 6677 West Colfax Avenue, Denver. dmmvendors@gmail.com, 720-525-5645

Death To All - Denver, CO @ 7pm Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St, Denver

Featured Featured

The Well @ 7pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver

Featured

Grandma @ 8pm

Cervantes' Master‐piece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Wel‐ton St, Denver Coco @ 8pm

Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Dana @ 9pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

John Mayer @ 7:30pm Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Cir, Denver

Joy Oladokun @ 7:30pm Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Cir, Denver

Tue 4/04

Enumclaw (Band) @ 7pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo at 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 8pm Bout Time Pub & Grub, 5225 W 80th Ave, Arvada

Cavern @ 8pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Wed 4/05

Emilie-Claire Barlow @ 6:30pm Nocturne, 1330 27th St, Denver

Damn Yankees @ 7:30pm Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Ar‐vada

Featured Featured

Dogs in a Pile @ 8pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver