Don Gittleson, a rancher from Walden, CO, has tried numerous nonlethal wolf deterrents over the past year, and his latest method involves Longhorn cattle.
Gittleson spoke with WLJ earlier in June and emphasized not only the difficulty of finding certain deterrents, but also the deterrents’ limited efficacy against wolves.
Gittleson has employed the use of fladry, cracker shells, fox lights, a human presence and even burros, but he continues to have cattle killed by wolves. Now, he is employing the use of Longhorns to deter wolves.
“I don’t know that they will work 100% of the time, but most cattle with horns know how to use them,” he told The Coloradoan. “They are pretty calm around people, but I can tell you they don’t even like my little dog, so they probably don’t like any canids like wolves and coyotes.”
