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Monday, Jan. 13, 2025

Does weather kill more cattle in the U.S. than wolf predation?

Por Jaijongkit, The Colorado Sun
yes

A 2015 federal study of cattle deaths in the U.S. found that weather-related causes killed more than 70 times the number of cattle compared to wolf attacks.

Across the country, 157,400 cattle were lost to weather in 2015 while around 2,040 were lost to wolf predation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent analysis. An estimated 41,700 cattle were lost to predation nationwide, with wolves accounting for around 5%.

Causes other than predation, such as old age and illness, made up 97.6% of cattle deaths. Of those, 9.3% were from weather-related causes such as chilling, drowning and lightning. 

Since voter-approved wolf reintroduction began in Colorado in December 2023, wolves in the state have injured or killed at least six cows, 11 calves, nine sheep and one llama. 

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