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The Trust Project

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(Provided by Gigafact.)

Yes.

A 2015 federal study of cattle deaths in the U.S. found that weather-related causes killed more than 70 times the number of cattle compared to wolf attacks.

Across the country, 157,400 cattle were lost to weather in 2015 while around 2,040 were lost to wolf predation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent analysis. An estimated 41,700 cattle were lost to predation nationwide, with wolves accounting for around 5%.

Causes other than predation, such as old age and illness, made up 97.6% of cattle deaths. Of those, 9.3% were from weather-related causes such as chilling, drowning and lightning. 

Since voter-approved wolf reintroduction began in Colorado in December 2023, wolves in the state have injured or killed at least six cows, 11 calves, nine sheep and one llama. 

See full source list below.

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Corrections:

This story was updated at 5:15 p.m., Jan. 13, 2025, to remove a sentence pertaining to wolf depredations in Colorado prior to 2021 because of conflicting information.

References:

Death Loss in U.S. Cattle and Calves Due to Predator and Nonpredator Causes, 2015, United States Department of Agriculture, December 2017. Source link.

Wolves in Colorado, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, accessed in January 2025. Source link.

Confirmed Gray Wolf Depredation Information, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, accessed in January 2025. Source link.

Type of Story: Fact-Check

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

Por recently graduated from CU Boulder with a master’s degree in journalism and is interested in writing about the environment and exploring local stories. When not working on some form of writing, Por is either looking for Thai food or petting...