JACKSON COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirms a calf in northern Colorado was very likely killed by wolves, the second such episode on record both since the start of the month and since the animal was reintroduced in the state.

A wildlife officer responded to a property in Jackson County on Sunday morning, where they found “injuries on a dead calf consistent with wolf depredation, including a partially consumed hindquarter.”

CPW says the field investigator also found partial wolf tracks in the area. The office is aware of four wolves in that area, including wolves that were released in December and a wolf or wolves with known territory in the area.

This follows a previous incident on April 2 in Grand County, also involving a calf.

CPW said it would not be releasing further information on Sunday’s incident, but noted the calf’s owner could submit a claim and be reimbursed for the market value.

“CPW provides reimbursement for damages caused by gray wolves to livestock defined in C.R.S. 33-2-105.8 and animals used for guard/herding purposes and provides conflict minimization materials to livestock producers in affected areas under its Gray Wolf Compensation and Conflict Minimization Program,” the office said.

Parks and Wildlife also stated that it was working with the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) to better “anticipate and prepare for predator livestock incidents.”

“CPW and CDA have been working together through a Memorandum of Understanding … and are working towards deploying range riders in coming weeks and other tools to help ranchers with non-lethal deterrence,” it said.

CPW detailed the plan further in a news release on its website, dated after the calf killing in Grand County but before Sunday’s incident. According to the release, the Department of Agriculture is requesting funding from the state to hire the range riders, described as “boots-on-the-ground support to livestock producers to help protect herds from wolves.” That funding is pending approval from the state legislature.

“A human presence like a range rider can help detect wolves and deploy non-lethal deterrents to avoid depredation of livestock. While this request for range riders is pending at the legislature, CDA and CPW are deploying other available resources to provide immediate support and are working on a plan to deploy on the ground assistance through range riders this month.”

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