A Recently Released Wolf Is Spotted Near A Colorado Family Ranch
Colorado ranchers are continuing to express concerns about their safety and the well-being of their livestock after a photo of what is believed to be one of Colorado's ten recently released wolves surfaced.
Todd Schmidt, a resident of Grand County told The Coloradan that he captured images of a lone wolf on his cellphone on January 2. The wolf was seen just 20 yards off a busy rural road. The sighting occurred less than half a mile from a nearby house, raising concerns about the proximity of the wolf to human habitation.
This is believed to be one of the first wolves released into Colorado as part of its reintroduction program. The photo was taken southwest of Kremmling, Colorado on January 2, 2024. (Todd Schmidt)
While wolves generally avoid humans, the ease with which Schmidt was able to approach the wolf has left some ranchers worried.
Kathryn Schlatter, a resident of Windler Ranch near Yampa, reported a sighting of four wolves on a neighboring ranch. She expressed her concerns about the safety of her children, despite acknowledging that wolves rarely pose a threat to humans.
In addition to livestock, Wolves have been known to kill dogs as they view them as competitors for prey and territory.
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Schmidt's photos of the collared wolf was taken approximately five miles from the initial release site. It is unclear if the wolf was released at that specific location. Colorado Parks and Wildlife released the wolves in late December as part of their reintroduction effort and fitted them with GPS satellite collars.
As of now, Schmidt has not reported the sighting to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the state wildlife agency has not confirmed the validity of the sighting.