Rural Colorado Rancher Warns Wolf Conflicts Are Hitting Close To Home

By: Wade Allnutt | Commentary, The Fence Post

I write this letter as a taxpayer, livestock producer and, most importantly, as a father of two young children. I am not writing to point fingers, but to give a first-hand account of what was voted on and what we in rural western Colorado are now living with as a consequence.

The recent confirmed wolf depredation of a dog in Jackson County on Feb. 7, 2026, hits close to home for me. However, it is no more important than the depredations and mounting stress others have faced across western Colorado since this process began as a result of Proposition 114. This was also not the first depredation event for this ranch; they have had five other confirmed depredations of cattle in the last two years.

Colorado is not an untouched wilderness. It is a working landscape, fragmented by highways, communities, ranches, schools and small towns. Wolves here are not living in vast, uninhabited country. They are living among us, often within yards of homes. That reality requires active, responsive management on the ground. This is not Yellowstone National Park. Our land is lived on, worked and raised on. Conflict here is not theoretical, it is happening right now, and the impact is increasing.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THE FENCE POST

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.