January 4, 2024
Mike Pearson tells listeners about an effort to reintroduce the gray wolf back into the state of Colorado.
In the past 15 days, 10 gray wolves have been reintroduced into the forests in Colorado in an effort to rebuild the wolf population.
Back in 2020, voters approved a measure to reintroduce wolves there. The measure passed with 50.9 percent of the vote.
Then researchers and others with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife went to work to come up with a comprehensive plan to reintroduce them and the legal battles began for livestock producers.
The concern obviously for livestock producers is that as wolf numbers grow, livestock will be hurt or killed.
A lawsuit was filed and the judge sympathized with livestock producers but said it would stop the will of the people and that wolves could be reintroduced.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife did set up an indemnity fund with losses up to $15,00 per animal if harmed by a wolf.
There are plans to bring 50 more wolves into the state.
The wolves are two times the size of coyotes and weigh as much as 100 pounds.
The one that is clear is that cattle and sheep producers have to remain vigilant in protecting their livestock.
Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.
You May Also Like