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The Trust Project

Original Reporting This article contains firsthand information gathered by reporters. This includes directly interviewing sources and analyzing primary source documents.
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Graphic of cows grazing on farm land with a barn behind them

Yes.

The state anticipated conflicts when Parks and Wildlife officials released five gray wolves onto public lands in Grand County in December to reestablish wolves in Colorado.

Lawmakers created a compensation fund offering up to $15,000 once Wildlife officials confirm wolves have killed livestock or working animals. Owners file a claim in which they can ask for the value of the animal or the production lost because of the killing.

Colorado law also requires Parks and Wildlife to help ranchers prevent and resolve conflicts. The state offers “a suite of non-lethal tools” and expertise, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Travis Duncan said in an email.

In 2024, state officials loaned out fox lights or motion-triggering scare lights at 11 properties. Last year, fladry — a line of bright red flags — was installed on five projects. 

The state has purchased more than $74,000 worth of conflict minimization materials.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

See full source list below.

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The Colorado Sun partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-size fact-checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

References:

"Colorado Parks and Wildlife successfully releases gray wolves on Colorado’s Western Slope," Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Dec. 18, 2023. Source link.

"33-2-105.8. Reintroduction of gray wolves on designated lands west of the continental divide – public input in commission development of restoration plan - compensation to owners of livestock - definitions," Colorado Revised Statutes, 2020. Source link.

"Wolf Depredation Compensation Fund," Colorado General Assembly, 2023. Source link.

"Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan," Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2023. Source link.

"Email response to The Colorado Sun," Colorado Parks and Wildlife, April 11, 2024. Source link.

Type of Story: Fact-Check

Checks a specific statement or set of statements asserted as fact.

Justin George is a 1995 graduate of Columbine High School. He has worked as a reporter at six news organizations including the Boulder Daily Camera, the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post. Email him at justin@coloradosun.com