As calving and lambing season begins in earnest, the Colorado Department of Agriculture is sending funding directly to Colorado livestock producer organizations to help them prepare for predator conflict using non-lethal management tools. As Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) continues the voter-mandated wolf reintroduction effort, CDA has issued 12 grants, ranging between $5,000 and $35,000, to organizations across Colorado that work with livestock owners in areas where wolves are or may be present.
“This funding is going directly to producer groups to give livestock owners the tools they need to be ready for calving and lambing season,” said Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. “CDA and CPW are offering various resources to livestock owners to help them get ahead of predator conflict in a way that works for their particular operation. These non-lethal conflict reduction grants will further strengthen the preparedness and response of livestock producers across Colorado.”
Funding will be used by grant recipients in ways that work best for their entire community. The GarPit Association of Conservation Districts, which is made up of the Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation Districts and covers Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle Counties, has formed a committee of district board members, local producers and partner staff to review all requests for assistance.
"These funds will be utilized to help livestock producers in our Conservation Districts with non-lethal wolf mitigation, carcass management, record keeping apps and start-up range rider costs,” said Emily Schwaller, District Manager. “Since the counties we cover were announced as potential release sites, producers have been reaching out for help with implementing non-lethal measures to be proactive in protecting their livestock. We have decades of history working with landowners and producers in our area and utilized these relationships to gather input on how to make these funds as useful as possible.”
The grant funding will be used to prepare, educate, and coordinate with producers to implement non-lethal conflict reduction measures. These measures could include the development of localized carcass management plans and range rider programs. Additionally, educational organizations will use the funding to gather stakeholders and find additional research opportunities of non-lethal mitigation tactics.
The twelve organizations selected to receive funding from CDA are:
- Routt County CSU Extension ($10,000)
- CSU - Garfield County Extension ($35,000)
- Gunnison Legacy Fund ($35,000)
- Routt Moffat Woolgrowers Association ($35,000)
- Upper Arkansas Conservation District ($20,000)
- Eagle County Conservation District ($35,000)
- Central CO Cattlemen's Association ($35,000)
- Moffat County Cattlemen's Association ($35,000)
- North Park Stockgrowers Association ($35,000)
- Colorado State University ($5,000)
- Middle Park Stockgrowers Association ($20,000)
- GarPit Association of Conservation Districts ($35,000)
These grants were developed in response to rancher requests for increased resources to reduce the potential of depredation of livestock. In April 2024, CDA piloted the grant by awarding $20,000 to Middle Park Stockgrowers Association, to hire a range rider who could employ non-lethal mitigation tactics. The grant was later expanded by an additional $28,000 from CPW’s wolf depredation and conflict fund. This year, CDA increased the amount of funding available to producer groups in Colorado to $335,000.
CDA also partnered with CPW, USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services, and CSU Extension for a series of workshops about the non-lethal mitigation tools available through the state. Eight meetings were held across western Colorado counties as well as a classroom-style range rider training.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding, CDA works closely with CPW through the Conflict Minimization Program, to help livestock owners understand and effectively use the non-lethal deterrent methods available to them. This includes education and technical assistance for ag producers and rancher organizations.
CPW’s Conflict Minimization Program includes site assessments, depredation response, communications and training, and the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Minimization Program Guide. Additionally, CPW has hired Conflict Specialists and contracted with range riders for the summer season.
Developing a Non-lethal Conflict Reduction Program to help ranchers address predator conflict is one of CDA’s priorities and CDA is helping provide the financial and technical assistance to producers as they prepare for coexistence with new predators on the landscape.
Do you need this press release in Spanish? Please email cda_communications@state.co.us.