Free Republic

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is making changes to how it decides whether or not to kill wolves that are continually attacking livestock after threats arise.. Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced on Wednesday, Sept. 30, that it will be taking a more conservative approach to deciding whether or not to kill wolves that are repeatedly attacking livestock — citing rising concerns over how potential disease, wolf pup survival, mortality rates and uncertainty around future releases could impact the nascent population of gray wolves. The management change comes after the state wildlife agency has killed five wolves this year — four between...

Ranchers say their hands are tied as reintroduced wolves—listed as endangered—are feasting on cattle instead of hunting elk and deer.. Descendants of rewilded wolves are taking a heavy toll on cattle in Northern California and Oregon, killing calves and full-grown animals and putting stress on cow-calf operations and ranchers’ pocketbooks. Because wolves are listed as an endangered species under state and federal law, ranchers are hamstrung: They can’t shoot or harass these protected predators. The penalty for killing a wolf is steep; federal law carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine, unless a rancher...