Wolf depredation claims two calf deaths in Crystal River, Roaring Fork valleys

Ginny Harrington/Courtesy photo
A pack of wolves is reported to be responsible for the death of two calves and injuries to others recently in the Roaring Fork and Crystal River valleys, local ranchers said Tuesday.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is investigating multiple livestock depredations reportedly carried out by the Copper Creek wolf pack, according to Ginny and Tom Harrington, members of the Holy Cross Cattlemen’s Association and operators of the Crystal River Ranch south of Carbondale. The pack is responsible for the majority of depredations since Colorado reintroduced gray wolves in December 2023.
The Harringtons said a cow and calf were attacked and injured at the McCabe Ranch at Old Snowmass on Saturday, May 17. That was followed less than a week later by back-to-back-to-back suspected wolf attacks on cattle Friday, Saturday and Sunday:
- One calf was found dead and another injured at the Crystal River Ranch on Friday;
- One calf was confirmed dead and another missing at McCabe Ranch on Saturday;
- Finally, a cow and calf were injured by three wolves at Lost Marbles Ranch on Sunday.
The Lost Marbles incident was reported to have taken place in broad daylight in the heart of the calving grounds, a large meadow where ranchers actively monitor mothers and newborns during the critical calving season, according to Colorado Cattlemen’s Association.
“The wolves disembowel the animal after they eat the hindquarters,” Ginny Harrington told The Aspen Times on Tuesday evening.
The wolves separated the cow and a calf from the main herd at Lost Marble Ranch, severely injuring the calf.
“It’s hard to describe the heartbreak of finding a calf torn apart in the middle of the field you’ve been tending day and night,” Mike Cerveny, manager at Lost Marble Ranch, said in a Tuesday news release by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. “We work around the clock to protect our livestock, only to be blindsided like this and not even told wolves were in the area until it was too late.”
Colorado Parks and Wildlife dispatched a range rider to the area but failed to provide essential information, including contact information, specifics about the property or even a map of the terrain, Tom Harrington said in the same release.
“I learned about the wolf activity and the range rider’s presence through our local brand inspector a day before I ever heard from wildlife officials,” he said in the release.
According to the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff investigated the scene and verbally confirmed it was a likely wolf depredation.
This is not the first report of livestock being killed by wolves in Pitkin County. A yearling was confirmed killed via wolf depredation in mid–March.
“This is not sustainable,” Ginny Harrington said. “It’s not good for anybody or for any creature.”
“CPW is currently conducting investigations related to recent potential wolf-livestock depredation events in Pitkin County,” CPW Northwest Region Public Information Officer Rachael Gonzales said via email on Tuesday night. “CPW will provide further information when the investigations are final and has no additional comment at this time.”

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