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Colorado department official outlines wolf‑livestock mitigation program; San Miguel County weighs carcass‑disposal options
Summary
At a March 25 special meeting, Jesse Lassiter of the Colorado Department of Agriculture described a new statewide nonlethal wolf‑livestock conflict program and urged counties to review carcass‑management options. San Miguel County agreed to check Broad Canyon landfill acceptance and to coordinate with CSU Extension on outreach.
Jesse Lassiter, the Southwest Non‑Lethal Mitigation Specialist with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, told San Miguel County commissioners on March 25 that the department started a program in 2024 to reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock using nonlethal tools and outreach. Lassiter described on‑the‑ground tactics — range riding, night watches and "flagery" (an electrified polywire with ribbons) — and emphasized that carcass management is a key, low‑cost step to avoid attracting predators.
"The goal is to keep them going from point A to point B and not detract them onto operations with dead animals," Lassiter said, outlining the program’s biological rationale. He added that disposal fees for a single carcass typically range "anywhere from 75 to 175" dollars in other parts of the state.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the county currently lacks a local livestock landfill; the closest facility for agricultural carcasses is Broad Canyon Landfill in Montrose County. That distance and the variable capacity of small, family operations to transport carcasses were central concerns. If carcasses remain on or near ranches, Lassiter warned, they can attract predators and increase local conflict.
County response: Commissioners and staff agreed on three near‑term follow‑ups: (1) county staff will contact Broad Canyon Landfill in Montrose County to confirm whether it accepts livestock carcasses and to request typical pricing; (2) staff will share CDA’s best‑practice materials with CSU extension (Anica/Annika Christensen) so extension staff can distribute guidance and gather producer feedback; and (3) the county will evaluate whether to reimburse or waive fees for producers who must haul carcasses to Broad Canyon.
Program scope and funding: Lassiter said CDA has three full‑time staff dedicated to the mitigation program and that contracted range‑rider funding is covered for the current season and appears funded for the next season. He called the program a state‑level effort to assist livestock producers through on‑site deployments and outreach rather than a wildlife‑management program led by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
What remains unresolved: Commissioners asked whether CDOT’s roadkill pickup could be a partner for livestock carcass disposal; Lassiter said CDOT practices vary by county and are not a dependable universal solution. The commission did not make a reimbursement decision at the meeting, saying staff should first get pricing and utilization data from Broad Canyon and producer estimates from CSU Extension before proposing a budgetary motion.
Next steps: County staff committed to the outreach and information‑gathering tasks and to reporting back with confirmed landfill acceptance, cost estimates, and any recommended reimbursement policy.
