As wolves return to Colorado’s wild landscapes, so too have old fears—often fueled by misinformation and polarized debate. But a newly launched program is providing a powerful example of how pragmatism and collaboration can offer real solutions.
This spring, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) fully deployed their Range Rider Program, a proactive initiative designed to prevent conflict between wolves and livestock without resorting to lethal measures. The program brings together experienced local ranchers, wildlife managers, and conservationists in a shared effort to protect both cattle and carnivores.
The Range Rider Program is a key component of CPW’s broader Wolf-Livestock Conflict Minimization Program Guide, which outlines various non-lethal tools, strategies, and support systems available to producers. This comprehensive framework also details the state’s response plans and the roles of partner agencies and NGOs in supporting coexistence on the landscape.
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A Non-Lethal, Hands-On Approach
Range riders are skilled professionals trained in livestock management, wildlife tracking, and hazing techniques that discourage wolves from approaching herds. Their job isn’t to eliminate wolves—it’s to help livestock and predators coexist safely across Colorado’s vast rangelands.
These riders are not government outsiders; most were recommended by local stockgrower and cattlemen’s organizations and are deeply familiar with the communities and terrain they serve. Each rider is equipped with their own truck, horses, and gear, and many began patrolling in April to assist producers during calving and lambing season.
“CPW staff and our partners have been working hard, learning and adapting throughout this first year of wolf restoration in Colorado,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis. “The deployment of this stronger conflict minimization program is critical as we prepare to release wolves this upcoming season.”
"I want to reiterate that we take our responsibility for the wellbeing of the ranchers, their livestock and the wolves very seriously. We are confident we will be successful restoring a healthy, sustainable population of gray wolves to Colorado as mandated, while avoiding and minimizing impacts to our critical ranching industry and rural communities.”
A Model of Collaboration Over Conflict
Too often, wildlife policy becomes a battleground for partisan politics or emotional extremes. But the Range Rider Program offers a different model—one based on listening, learning, and working together. This isn’t about choosing wolves over livestock, or vice versa. It’s about protecting both.
“By providing skilled personnel to work alongside our producers, we are actively expanding their capacity to manage potential conflicts,” said Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. “This ensures the resilience of their operations and fosters successful coexistence with predators on our shared landscapes.”
Colorado is one of only three states with an official range rider program, alongside Washington and Arizona. Riders are now deployed across northwest Colorado counties including Jackson, Grand, Routt, Eagle, and Moffat, with the flexibility to move where wolf activity is highest.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
Real-World Impact, Grounded in Experience
Each of the 13 current riders brings experience in ranching, land management, and animal husbandry. Working up to 22 days a month during the on-range season from April to October, they monitor herds, haze predators, and collect critical data to help CPW better understand predator-livestock interactions.
This boots-on-the-ground work offers a tangible, measured response to the uncertainty surrounding wolf reintroduction. Rather than relying on fear-based rhetoric or reactive measures, the Range Rider Program represents a forward-looking approach that balances conservation with agricultural sustainability.
It’s a rare example of a win-win solution—one where wolves, ranchers, and Colorado’s natural heritage can all thrive.
Learn more about CPW’s wolf reintroduction and management plan by visiting the CPW website here, with more guides and resources. You can also contact their team with questions or to get more program information by emailing Travis.Duncan@state.co.us.
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