Key Takeaways
- There are nearly 3,500 gray and Mexican wolves scattered across the western United States.
- Every time cattle are eaten by wolves, taxpayers reimburse ranchers for their losses. Depending on the state, that reimbursement can cost anywhere from $500 to $15,000 per animal.
- Ranch income is negatively impacted by the presence of wolves exponentially. A 2 percent calf loss equates to a 4 percent income loss, or about $5,000, while a 14 percent calf loss equates to a 34 percent income loss for a ranch, or about $42,000.
- States should encourage private partnerships to develop solutions to reduce predations and improve gray and Mexican wolf management.
Introduction
Gray wolves are dangerous apex predators. Experience shows that gray wolves have negative impacts on ranchers and livestock both economically and biologically. Western states have sought to reestablish wolf populations in pursuit of making ecosystems whole but in doing so have, in some cases, ignored the need for flexibility in management practices and recovery goals over time.
Ignoring the realities of gray wolves on a given landscape is likely rooted in the popular fascination with the animals as something to be revered. In mythology, Romulus and Remus, the twins whose lives eventually became the foundation story for the establishment of Rome, were raised by a wolf after being abandoned by their mother.1 In some Native American traditions, wolves are often viewed as teachers, guides, or spirits symbolizing loyalty, wisdom, and familial bonds. In European
stories, wolves have dichotomous representation as both noble and dangerous beasts.
The complex relationships people have with wolves globally are reflected in the policies surrounding management of the predators in the western United States. Management of both the Mexican Wolf in the southwest and gray wolf throughout
other western states is cumbersome. There do not appear to be coordinated efforts between states where populations are newly established and states where wolves have been present for decades. The patchwork of regulations regarding wolves and how to
control their numbers has created barriers for developing cooperative partnerships and data sharing that would allow for better management in each state.
Examples of these barriers are evident across several western states. In the southwest, Mexican wolves have killed cattle and sheep as the population has significantly increased. The reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado has already cost the state nearly $350,000 in depredation repayments to cattle ranches since their reintroduction in 2023.2 In Washington state, the “Gray Wolf Management Plan” is approaching 15 years old.3 Since its initial publication, it has not been updated or revised.
Solutions have been elusive because of regulation, activist opposition, or unwillingness by state officials to try new management strategies. For example, Washington state has not updated its gray wolf management procedures because the gray wolf population is considered too fragile to for new management practices to be implemented.
Activists in California have been at the heart of resistance to the development and implementation of predator management policies as packs have emerged in the Sierra Valley, killing cattle rather than other available food resources.
The relative “newness” of the packs in Colorado have created resistance to adjusting management practices, despite the clear need for change. Learning from neighboring states and developing a strategy that addresses regional similarities while leaving flexibility for individual states’ needs could significantly improve the overall policy landscape.