An uncollared wolf that has been killing sheep in northwestern Colorado was shot by a team of state and federal officials during an authorized operation to lethally remove the animal.
Kurt Holtzen, a predator conflict mitigation specialist with Western Wildlife Conflict Mitigation based in Idaho, said he had been hazing the same wolf from a sheep band he was helping protect in Rio Blanco County prior to officials shooting the wolf Aug. 16.
Holtzen told the Coloradoan a member of the team shot the animal but that they couldn't determine if the shot was fatal after searching for but not locating the wolf.
"It was a good hit, but it (the wolf) made it to heavy oak brush," Holtzen said. "The wolf hasn't been heard from again and he was pretty vocal. It was absolutely the right decision to issue the lethal permit."
It took Colorado Parks and Wildlife 10 days after the shooting to send out a news release Aug. 26 that failed to address the key question: Did team members shoot and hit the wolf or not?
The confusing news release sent by the state wildlife agency prompted the Coloradoan on Aug. 26 to send an email to the agency asking that question and to reach out to sources to explain what took place Aug. 16.
Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Travis Duncan stated in an Aug. 27 email response to the Coloradoan's question that "CPW will not be sharing further specific information concerning the depredation events or the ensuing removal operation at this time. CPW will post a final report on its website once it is completed."
The agency's Aug. 26 news release stated Colorado Parks and Wildlife and U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Wildlife Services located the wolf and "attempted to lethally remove the wolf with a firearm on August 16 but were unable to locate the animal due to the dense vegetation and difficult terrain in the area."
The release further stated the team looked for the wolf but discontinued the search after six days of not finding it and "concluded removal efforts" but continue to monitor the area for signs of further wolf activity. The agency noted there have been "no additional depredations or reports of wolf vocalizations since August 16."
The wolf, which is presumed to have naturally migrated into Colorado, had confirmed kills of six sheep between July 20 and Aug. 16 in Rio Blanco County. That fit the state wildlife agency's chronic depredation definition of three or more depredations by the same wolf or wolves in a 30-day period, which can result in lethal removal of the animal according to federal 10(j) rules in certain situations.
Holtzen told the Coloradoan the wolf howled day and night, much more than any other wolf he has encountered. He said despite the efforts from the sheep owner, Cololorado Parks and Wildlife and his hazing, the wolf continued to kill sheep. The agency's wolf depredation report shows the first three kills came July 20 and 22 and Aug. 2.
"I used everything but the kitchen sink on him for four nights straight and each night he would come in and howl right near the sheep," Holtzen said. "In my experience over two decades of conflict mitigation work, I've never seen this level of a wolf being so bold and not responding to any conflict mitigation."
Colorado Parks and Wildlife initially tried to lethally remove the wolf after the Aug. 2 depredation, but the Elk Fire burning east of Meeker forced the agency to postpone the operation for the safety of its staff until Aug. 16 — the same day the wolf killed three lambs.
Update on the lethal removal operation involving the Copper Creek pack
Duncan told the Coloradoan in an email that the agency continues to attempt to lethally remove a member of the Copper Creek pack in Pitkin County, but that a team on the ground looking for the wolves has not been able to see them.
The agency is trying to remove a member of the pack under its chronic depredation definition.
The pack's breeding female and four of its pups — despite the state wolf recovery plan stating known depredating wolves should not be translocated to other parts of the state — were rereleased in Pitkin County in January after being captured in Grand County last year because of repeated depredations.
The pack has had 10 confirmed depredations in Pitkin County since March, including the latest Aug. 12.
Duncan said the federal 10(j) rule allows the agency to pursue lethal removal within 30 days of the last depredation. That would mean the current lethal removal operation could extend to Sept. 11.
Duncan said all adults of the Copper Creek pack are wearing collars but would not comment on whether the collars are functioning or not.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado wildlife agency won't confirm if it shot wolf killing sheep
Comments