WALDEN, Colo. — Many would agree that saving endangered animals is important, but that mission gets complicated when the endangered animals are predators.

The gray wolf once roamed across nearly two dozen states in the U.S. After decades of overhunting, they’ve been reintroduced in just a handful of states hoping to restore ecological balance.

But balance to some means chaos to others. In the case of the gray wolf, reintroduction in several states have led to contentious legal battles and polarizing arguments between conservationists and ranchers, whose farms often sit next to wolf territory.

Don Gittleson’s ranch in Walden, Colorado is one of them.

“My grandparents raised Angus cattle when I was a kid,” said Gittleson.

Ranching is in his blood, but the wolves are threatening to make his livelihood a lot harder to earn.

“They came in one night, and they killed a calf,” said Gittleson.

Wolves have attacked and killed three of his cows in just the last couple of weeks.

“The worst was the cow they didn’t kill because of how bad they tore her up, and I knew when I saw her, we’d have to put her down.”

Gittleson is worried this will become a common sight on his Colorado ranch and others like it.

In 2020, voters decided to reintroduce the animals to Colorado. In recent years, they have been reintroduced in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

Conservationists are excited to see the wolf population growing, but many ranchers aren’t.

“This is not Idaho; this is not Montana, this is not Wyoming,” said Gittleson. “There are way more people in this state, and once the wolves get here, this is going to be a way bigger mess than any of those states.”

Gittleson said the reintroduction in Colorado has to be different for it to work. It has to protect wolves and support businesses. In past reintroduction efforts, he said ranchers were largely left out of the conversation.

“If they want to have the wolves and they want it to work, they’re going to have to compensate the ranchers.”

He is hoping the compensation will go beyond just paying for the animal that was killed.

“I can’t be replacing cows, because I’m only going to get paid for the cow. I’m not going to get paid for her production, I’m not going to get paid for the calf that I lose from her. I can’t stay in business that way.”

The fight for better rancher compensation is just the first step to protect his herd. Gittleson is changing the way he runs his ranch, moving cattle differently and building specific, physical barriers around his pastures to keep the wolves out. He’s never had to go to such extremes before.

On top of the fortifications, he’s also building bridges: inviting wolf advocates to his ranch.

It’s an unusual partnership. Together, ranchers and conservationists will advise the Colorado department of wildlife on how to reintroduce wolves safely.

“For wolves to succeed on this landscape, we need to make sure ranchers, the stewards of this landscape, can succeed too,” said Karin Vardaman runs wolf advocacy group, Working Circle.

She and her staff are volunteering to protect herds at night.

“This is kind of that emergency response, so you know providing that 24-hour watch,” said Vardaman.

She will stay in the pasture until sunrise to keep the wolves out. It’s not a permanent solution, but for these animal advocates, it’s a show of good faith to the ranchers that they are committed to developing a better plan for reintroduction.

This firsthand ranch experience is something wolf advocates have never had before.

“I got into wolf work because I love wolves, but I’m just grateful because I feel like the veil has been lifted for me. I’ve just fell in love with the ranching community and their way of life,” said Vardaman.

She doesn’t know how long her team can help out like this, but she says it’s the understanding and collaboration happening here that will help make this reintroduction a nationwide conservation model.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (KMGH) – Colorado is now home to at least three wolf pups since the grey wolf was driven to near-extinction back in the 1940s, state wildlife officials said Wednesday morning.

Between June 4 through June 8, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) staff conducted three separate observations of the den site occupied by collared wolves M2101 (“John”) and F1084 (“Jane”). During observations, staff reported visual confirmation of the three pups, though officials said they could not confirm if there were more. A typical wolf litter consists of four to six pups, according to CPW.

“Colorado is now home to our first wolf litter since the 1940s. We welcome this historic den and the new wolf family to Colorado. With voter passage last year of the initiative to require re-introduction of the wolf by the end of 2023, these pups will have plenty of potential mates when they grow up to start their own families,” Governor Jared Polis said in a prepared statement.

CPW officials explained all three observations were made at dawn or dusk in low light conditions at a significant distance, adding they have the experience and necessary equipment to make affirmative observations.

“We are continuing to actively monitor this den site while exercising extreme caution so as not to inadvertently jeopardize the potential survival of these pups,” said Libbie Miller, CPW wildlife biologist. “Our hope is that we will eventually have photos to document this momentous occasion in Colorado's incredible and diverse wildlife history, but not bothering them remains a paramount concern.”

As the pups grow larger and spend more time outside of the den, biologists and area staff will have additional opportunities to observe the animals, CPW said. The department is currently working with landowners in the area to implement practices to minimize the potential for conflict, officials said in the news release.

“It’s incredible that these two adult animals have traveled the distance and overcome the challenges they have to get here, and to now have pups in Colorado,” said Kris Middledorf, area wildlife manager for CPW. “It’s our priority to ensure that they have the chance to thrive, so even as we have exciting news, we want to remind everyone that these animals remain endangered in Colorado.

Due to their endangered status in our state, those caught killing a gray wolf in Colorado face a fine of $100,000, jail time, and a loss of hunting privileges, CPW said. Harassment of wildlife is also illegal in the state.

Late last month, CPW officials said they had identified one of the collared wolves living in Colorado since 2019 as a female, a significant development since “Jane” and her companion had been showing movement patterns consistent with “potential denning behavior.”

Last year, Colorado voters passed Proposition 114 to have CPW reintroduce gray wolves into the state by the end of 2023.

CPW has identified at least six wolves in Colorado over the past couple of years. Despite the federal delisting, gray wolves remain an endangered species in Colorado and cannot be killed for any reason other than personal self-defense.

CPW urges the public to contact them immediately and fill out a report if they see or hear wolves or find evidence of wolf activity in Colorado.

This story originally reported by Oscar Contreras on TheDenverChannel.com.