Federal wildlife officials asked the public earlier this year for feedback on how Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program was going. It’s been two and a half years since Colorado wildlife managers began releasing wolves into the wild.
And one of the responses from the public contained a stunning admission.
The owner of one of the largest ranches in Colorado said — in writing — that a worker on their ranch had recently killed a female wolf to defend livestock on the property,
according to The Colorado Sun.
That's a serious admission. Killing a wolf is illegal in Colorado, and can come with fines or jail time. Ranchers are required to try other methods to protect their livestock before using a lethal option.
So what does the death of this wolf — and the rancher’s admission about it — say about the status of Colorado’s wolf reintroduction project?
Tracy Ross covered the story for the Colorado Sun, which is a partner of KUNC News. She talked with In The NoCo’s Brad Turner about what she found out.
What is In The NOCO?
KUNC's In The NOCO is a daily look at the stories, news, people and issues important to you. It's a window to the communities along the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The show explores the big stories of the day, bringing context and insight to issues that matter. And because life in Northern Colorado is a balance of work and play, we explore the lighter side of news, highlighting what makes this state such an incredible place to live.