Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the Colorado Department of Agriculture told the Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources committee on Jan. 15 they are expanding nonlethal tools and compensation capacity after the initial wolf releases and subsequent livestock depredation reports.

Actions and capacity: CPW reported it is hiring up to 12 range riders with the intent to have an initial group in place before calving and lambing season and a full complement by range season; the department is also hosting range‑rider trainings in late January and a more comprehensive multi‑day training in April. CPW said it has augmented its staff of depredation response specialists — bringing total depredation conflict specialists toward 10 — and sent staff to out‑of‑state training on nonlethal responses.

Site assessments, grants and carcass management: CPW said it has received 61 requests for site assessments and completed 42 of those in three counties; CDA and CPW said they have cooperative programs to fund best‑management practices such as carcass management, fladry, guardian animals and other nonlethal deterrents. CDA noted $300,000 in one‑time county and extension grants coming for early season support and that private and federal partners have provided additional funding for nonlethal measures.

Compensation and claims: Agencies noted the statutory compensation framework created by Proposition 114 and the Parks and Wildlife Commission’s compensation cap of up to $15,000 per qualifying livestock loss. CPW staff said three large year‑end claims totaling more than $600,000 are being analyzed and will be reviewed with subject matter experts; CPW said it will present validated claims for payment consistent with statutory authority and Commission direction.

Chronic‑depredation criteria and review: CPW published an initial definition of “chronic depredation” as part of its livestock conflict policy and told the committee it will reevaluate that definition after the first calving/lambing season to ensure it is operational and reflects field conditions.

Safety and communications: CPW and DNR staff told legislators they have increased outreach through producer workshops and regional meetings and are coordinating with USDA, Wildlife Services, CSU Extension and local partners. DNR deputy director Reid DeWalt told the committee the agency has received threats tied to the operation and said staff safety is a central concern when deciding how to communicate capture and release operations.

Why it matters: The agencies described a multi‑agency effort combining prevention, rapid response and compensation to reduce livestock losses while implementing the statutory wolf reintroduction plan; legislators and local officials pressed for clearer notification and faster, transparent claim handling during the Jan. 15 hearing.