Wolves in Colorado

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Originally Posted by sniper7

There have been wolves in CO and I am certain we have some just not a sustained population. We also have brown bears (grizzlies) but the same thing, not confirmed and not a sustained population.

If I saw a large wild dog, I would shoot it since it is a large coyote.

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According to a senior CO wildlife biologist (off the record), the state knows that there are wolves in CO, but until there is a sustainable population, they will continue to not acknowledge their presence. I've never discussed wolverines before, so this discussion is all news to me about them.

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Originally Posted by CO Hugh

For any wolf lovers check the Elk stats in wolf country, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the elk herds are down about a third after the wolves. So no more elk hunting if the get to Colorado.

Since they don't exist must be a coyote on steroids, or a stray feral dog, but not a wolf and something legal to shoot at the time. (shoot, shovel)

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I'm the co-Chair for the Pikes Peak Chapter of the RMEF. I've seen a tremendous amount of data supporting the official RMEF position on wolves. Truth is, the wolf populations are exploding while the elk populations are getting decimated in those same areas. I think the 1/3 loss of elk in these areas may be old, or at the least conservative, estimates.

Thing is, once wolves establish any provable foothold in an area, the animal-rights groups begin litigation against any efforts to control their populations. There have been dozens of cases before the courts over the issue of managing wolf populations. While the animal-rights groups lose repeatedly, this doesn't dampen their spirits in bringing the next case before the courts. While each case is under litigation, the wolf populations continue to grow and the game species continue to dwindle.

Right on Cue: http://rmefblog.blogspot.com/2012/12...letter-on.html

David Allen Issues Letter on Yellowstone Park Wolves




Robert Ream, Chairman
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission
Helena, MT


Dear Mr. Ream,

We understand that Defenders of Wildlife and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC) are currently running a campaign against Montana FWP for allowing hunting and trapping of wolves outside of Yellowstone National Park (YNP). As you know, these hunts are legal, necessary and scientifically sustainable. There is absolutely no science or rationale to support these groups belief that a special "no hunt" zone should be created outside of YNP. Further, we are not aware of any science or rationale to support the attempts of Defenders, GYC and other groups to create a distinction between "Yellowstone wolves" and wolves that exist within the tri-state region of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.

The attempt to establish a “buffer zone” for YNP wolves is in direct contrast to the original goal for the wolf reintroduction in the Northern Rocky Mountains (NRM). Never at any time was it planned that "Yellowstone wolves" would be granted amnesty from management once outside of YNP. This is a time when Defenders, GYC and others should be celebrating a successful recovery of the wolf population. However, it seems that there is no such satisfaction. Will there ever be? A substantial number of wolves throughout the three states have come from YNP. Are they to be given special protection status as well? Additionally, hundreds of animals including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, black bears, mountain lions and others are fitted with radio collars for scientific purposes and roam the wilds in and around YNP, but they are not excluded from hunting seasons outside the park. When harvested, the collars are returned to the management agency and the data is utilized. We urge all hunters to return collars to wildlife agencies.

During the recent lawsuits over delisting wolves in the NRM, Defenders, GYC and others strongly proclaimed that borders between states did not matter when considering wolf populations and wolf management. They claimed this so they could keep Montana, Idaho and Wyoming all tied together in the lawsuit. We were all told "an imaginary or arbitrary border or line had no distinction when considering wolf populations.” Now, all of sudden, the YNP border is relevant and any wolf close to it but outside of the park should be protected. It is obvious that Defenders, GYC and others simply wish to continue to protest state-based management of wolves, thus keeping a "wolf controversy alive" for the express purpose of soliciting for more donations.

The reality is Montana, Wyoming and Idaho are each required to manage wolves within a specific set of mandates. If those mandates are not adhered to, then the states run the risk of losing management control and having their wolf population placed back on the Endangered Species List. As it stands today, wolf numbers continue to be well above objective and in need of reduction. Montana, Wyoming and Idaho are not close to risking the greater wolf population of the NRM being relisted under the ESA, and that should be the common goal for all of us.

Those who protest the harvesting of the Yellowstone area wolves seem to gloss over the fact that the primary reason wolves are leaving Yellowstone is for prey. The substantial reduction of the northern Yellowstone elk herd requires these wolves to travel farther for prey. We sincerely wish that those who claim to "defend wildlife" felt some empathy for the thousands of elk that have been lost from the northern Yellowstone elk herd, not to mention the related economic losses. We continue to hear the cry for different science from these special interest groups. We submit that the real science is at work now through state-based management and these groups need to get on board and support it. We have wasted enough taxpayer time and money chasing special interest ideology.

We urge you not to alter or reduce the ability to continue the legal and ethical management, including hunting and trapping, of wolves surrounding the Yellowstone National Park border. Further, we urge our members to communicate their position on this important issue with you.

Thank you for your consideration.


Respectfully,


David Allen
President/CEO

I saw a wolf near Pagosa Springs in the late 70's/early 80's, pointed out by an old surveyor/guide/cowboy/WWII vet that was born & raised in those parts. "Don't tell no one, those long hairs will be down here trying to save the damn things" I think was how he phrased it. I guess it was a fairly well known secret among the ranchers around .... northish of town a bit, but the three S's were common sense among those guys.

Wolverine on this side of Wolf Creek Pass some time later, unless someone knows of a critter that looks just like one. Didn't try to get a closer look (yes, I'm afraid of wolverines, ha ha) but it sure wasn't a badger or a bear.
Haven't been back since that old man passed away in '87 so I don't know if they're still around or not. Certainly weren't wandering in from Yellowstone tho.

Never saw a bear around there, oddly enough. Plenty of sign around chokecherry bushes so I know they were around. Couple mountain lions over a decade or so, and heard a few more, but never a bear.

A few years back, 07 I think, there was a woman in Teller county who was raising them on her own without a permit. The Gov. came in and shut her down. When they came for the wolfs, a lot got loose. They never found 7-8 of them as far as I know. They came by my house and asked me to keep a lookout for them, my house is only a few miles away. Canon City Is not far away for a wolf. It may have been one of them?

The coyotes that live in the mountainous regions of Canon City and Teller County are different from the plains dwelling coyotes. They look more like wolves, longer hair and larger feet for the snow. I have had a few wolf hybrids as pets. Wolf-Malamute mixes were way larger than these "wolfish" looking coyotes. Be careful out there, real wolves can be very dangerous!

I saw two down by Westcliffe 3 or 4 years ago. They came out into the road just feet from our truck and stopped right in front of us. They were tall enough to see over the truck hood and by my guess maybe 75lbs.

I have seen a few wolves in Teller county over the past 15 years. I saw a huge one very close to camp while bow hunting. No doubt it was a wolf. I spoke with DOW and they admitted knowing they have wolves there. One tried to bullshit me and claim it was a hybrid and I said no problem next time I see it trying to take a deer or Elk I will drop it for harassing wildlife. Then she became very defensive claiming the only way to tell a hybrid from a Wolf is DNA. Naturally the next question was how do "you" know then? The other guy was a pretty straight shooter. Its a small population for now.

There have been wolf sightings in the area that I have heard about since the 70's. Last year was the closest and the longest I have been able to watch one in Colorado. No doubt about what it was. I take yotes in the area on a regular basis. This was at least a 90 lb wolf in his summer coat. It was a bit bigger than most of the ones I see in Montana and Wyoming.

I wish I could live off 13 Elk/year. I think I eat the equivalent of one every two weeks.

There are wolves here folks, just not in large numbers yet. There are more of them in Routt county, and up near the border but they are here, as far south as Westcliffe for sure.

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Originally Posted by Mountain Man

I have seen a few wolves in Teller county over the past 15 years. I saw a huge one very close to camp while bow hunting. No doubt it was a wolf. I spoke with DOW and they admitted knowing they have wolves there. One tried to bullshit me and claim it was a hybrid and I said no problem next time I see it trying to take a deer or Elk I will drop it for harassing wildlife. Then she became very defensive claiming the only way to tell a hybrid for a Wolf if DNA. Naturally the next question was how do "you" know then? .

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Well played, sir.