Colorado Rejects Livestock Industry Attempt to Stop Wolf Reintroduction

January 8, 2025

Colorado Rejects Livestock Industry Attempt to Stop Wolf Reintroduction

Livestock groups' concerns and requested management changes were already addressed

Contacts

Alli Henderson, Center for Biological Diversity, (970) 309-2008, [email protected]

Lindsay Larris, WildEarth Guardians, (720) 334-7301, [email protected]

Delaney Rudy, Western Watersheds Project, (970) 648-4241, [email protected]

Aubyn Royall, The Humane Society of the United States, (303) 669-4021, [email protected]

Rob Edward, Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, (970) 236-1942, [email protected]

Perry Wheeler, Earthjustice, (202) 792-6211, [email protected]

Denver, CO-

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission today rejected a livestock industry petition to pause the historic, voter-approved reintroduction of gray wolves in the state.

"The commission's decision to continue wolf releases as planned is a win for wolves and a resounding rejection of the livestock industry's attempt to subvert the will of Colorado's voters," said Alli Henderson, southern Rockies director at the Center for Biological Diversity. "Our state wildlife agency has worked tirelessly to make the wolf reintroduction a success by leading with science. Now we can get back to the important business of restoring wolves to their rightful home in Colorado."

Today's decision affirms the recommendation of Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis, who said the state has already made the changes requested by the livestock industry.

Conservation groups urged the commission last month to reject the petition, saying a delay in releasing gray wolves into Colorado would be inconsistent with the law's requirement to establish a self-sustaining wolf population. Additional wolf releases would boost the genetic health of the state's nascent population and help wolves find mates and successfully reproduce. Stopping releases now would also violate CPW's wolf management plan and waste the taxpayer resources used to establish the successful wolf program.

"Native wolves are critical to our ecosystems and their restoration is part of an iconic effort to heal Colorado's landscapes. The Commission did right in continuing to facilitate their return," said Lindsay Larris, conservation director for WildEarth Guardians. "Livestock owners have been given a seat of privilege at the decision-making table. And generous compensation and coexistence resources are available to those who want them."

In 2020 Colorado voters approved Proposition 114, which requires wildlife officials to restore a self-sustaining population of wolves to the state by reintroducing 10 to 15 individuals annually, and 30 to 50 wolves total, over three to five years.

Colorado's first release of 10 gray wolves on state land took place in Grand County in December 2023. A second round of releases is planned for early 2025, with 10 to 15 wolves from British Columbia, Canada.

"The commission's decision firmly upholds the will of Colorado voters, dismissing this flimsy attempt by the agricultural industry to derail science-driven wolf restoration efforts," said Aubyn Royall, Colorado state director for the Humane Society of the United States. "Gov. Polis and his staff have done a commendable job of appointing commissioners who take a balanced approach to wildlife management."

The petition, from the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association and 20 other livestock industry and anti-wolf groups, called for wolf reintroductions to be paused until Colorado Parks and Wildlife made certain changes to its rules aimed at favoring the livestock industry.

"We are pleased that the commission rejected this desperate attempt to stop the voter-approved reintroduction of wolves in Colorado," said Jessica Zausmer, associate attorney with Earthjustice's Rocky Mountain Office. "CPW has already addressed livestock groups' concerns and made their requested management changes, eliminating the claimed basis to pause reintroductions. We look forward to seeing more paws on the ground in Colorado in the coming weeks."

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has already developed a robust program that addresses each of the livestock groups' concerns. The state provides numerous resources to minimize wolf-livestock conflict, like establishing a range rider program. Colorado's wolf management program also provides compensation for any livestock killed by wolves.

"This is a victory for wildlife and the power of democracy," said Delaney Rudy, Colorado director for Western Watersheds Project. "Wolves belong on the landscape in Colorado and CPW has offered many tools and resources to help ranchers, if they are willing to cooperate with this effort. But if the livestock industry is only willing to make demands to advance its own self-interest, the commission and CPW are wise to focus on native wildlife as their highest priority."

"The commission did the right thing. Colorado is developing a world-class carnivore conservation program, and the petition to pause was a poke in the eye," said Rob Edward of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project. "It's time to look forward and help Colorado's ranchers adapt to the growing presence of this most important carnivore."

Scientists estimate that as many as 2 million gray wolves once roamed North America, including much of the contiguous United States. Because of government-sponsored killing programs, wolf numbers in the lower 48 states dwindled to fewer than 1,000 animals.

A lone wolf howls across hills and valleys in the upper Midwest. (Jerry & Barb Jividen / Getty Images)

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