Rocky reintroduction: First 11 months of Colorado wolf recovery plagued with problems


Wolves bring trouble to pastures

Long article which contains videos about the Colorado wolf problem.

Completely predictable.

That vote needs to be reopened!
Polis needs to go too!

George

Duh it is what wolves do.

Modern day pagan worshippers.


Like to forget history.

https://coloradonewsline.com/b...nti-poaching-reward/


Colorado wolf advocates launch $50,000 anti-poaching reward
By: Chase Woodruff - November 22, 2024 4:00 am




A nonprofit that advocates for the restoration of gray wolves in Colorado said this week that it will begin offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information on acts of illegal wolf poaching as the state moves forward with its voter-mandated reintroduction plans.

The announcement of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project’s anti-poaching reward comes after a year of tension between advocates, wildlife managers and ranchers over last winter’s release of the state’s first 10 reintroduced wolves, and just ahead of the arrival of another 10 to 15 animals in the state wildlife agency’s 2024-25 “release season.”

Hunting gray wolves, an endangered species, is illegal in most cases under federal and Colorado law, and a state anti-poaching program, Operation Game Thief, offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest or citation of poachers.


But Courtney Vail, chair of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, said the group’s new reward, which is supported by pledges from a range of private donors and advocacy organizations, will “enhance incentives to bring perpetrators of crimes to justice.”

“While enforcement of, and imposition of penalties under, the law (i.e., fines, revocation of hunting privileges, or jail time) are probably the most effective deterrents to illegal activities, we believe that rewards may incentivize the public to ‘say something’ if they ‘see something’ regarding wolf poaching,” Vail said in a written statement. “By establishing and announcing the Wolf Reward, we hope to preempt those seeking to harm wolves as reintroduction unfolds and as wolves navigate their future among Colorado’s public and private landscapes.”

It’s been a turbulent first year for Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program, which is mandated by a statewide ballot measure, Proposition 114, narrowly approved by voters in 2020. The state’s first established wolf pack following reintroduction — consisting of a male and a female who were among the first 10 wolves released in Grand and Summit counties in December 2023, and their four pups — was rounded up by Colorado Parks and Wildlife agents in August after a series of livestock depredations. A short time later, the pack’s adult male died in captivity of what officials said was a preexisting injury.

State and federal wildlife officials said earlier this month that a different reintroduced wolf found dead in Grand County in September had died in a fight with another wolf, but also disclosed that the animal had an “old, healed gunshot wound to its rear leg.” Since the reintroduced wolves, captured last year in Oregon, underwent health screenings at the time, CPW officials say the wolf was likely shot in Colorado.

The Rocky Mountain Wolf Project says measures like the anti-poaching reward are necessary to “preempt targeted violence towards wolves during the initial stages of the reintroduction process to support law enforcement efforts.”

The standing $50,000 incentive will be awarded for “information leading to formal charges against anyone who illegally kills a wolf in Colorado,” the group says, and it will work in conjunction with the state’s existing anti-poaching tip hotline.

Gray wolves are native to Colorado and other Rocky Mountain states, but were hunted to near-extinction by settlers and ranchers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Conservationists and ecologists have backed reintroduction efforts like the one pioneered in Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s, while ranching and hunting interests have fueled a new backlash to reestablished wolf populations.

A formal reintroduction plan approved by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission last year calls for the capture and release of 10 to 15 wolves per year in the program’s first three to five years, with an initial target of a stable population of at least 50 animals within the state. Under Proposition 114, ranchers who lose livestock to confirmed wolf depredations are eligible for compensation from the state, while the federal government has granted a special exemption to the Endangered Species Act that allows for lethal control, as well as “injurious nonlethal” methods and “intentional harassment,” against wolves who threaten livestock.

Ranchers have formally petitioned CPW commissioners to delay the second round of wolf releases scheduled for this winter. CPW announced in September that the agency had reached an agreement with wildlife officials in the Canadian province of British Columbia to capture up to 15 gray wolves there and release them in Colorado between December and March.

I think they should take their money and pay the ranchers for lost livestock and genetics.

The wolf advocates are abusing the ESA and the wolf in order to force the legitimate land uses to give up and quit. It's not about wolves - it's about controlling the land.

quote:

Originally posted by Pancho:
The wolf advocates are abusing the ESA and the wolf in order to force the legitimate land uses to give up and quit. It's not about wolves - it's about controlling the land.

Exactly. They want humans OUT. They do not want us hunting and being the apex predator either.

More wolves, reintroduce grizzlies! Make Colorado Wild Again!

https://biologicaldiversity.or...NDgwNi4xNzM0MzU3OTY0


For Immediate Release, December 18, 2024

Contact:

Alli Henderson, Center for Biological Diversity, (970) 309-2008, ahenderson@biologicaldiversity.org
Lindsay Larris, WildEarth Guardians, (720) 334-730, llaris@wildearthguardians.org
Delaney Rudy, Western Watersheds Project, (970) 648-4241, delaney@westernwatersheds.org
Nicholas Arrivo, The Humane Society of the United States, (202) 961-9446, narrivo@humanesociety.org
Rob Edward, Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, (970) 236-1942, rob.edward@rockymountainwolfproject.org
Perry Wheeler, Earthjustice, (202) 792-6211, pwheeler@earthjustice.org

On Anniversary of Reintroduction, Colorado Urged to Proceed with 2025 Wolf Releases

DENVER— Delaying the release of gray wolves into Colorado would be disastrous for the state’s wolf reintroduction program and could violate state law, conservation groups said in a letter today to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. The groups urged the commission to reject a petition from the livestock industry seeking to pause the historic effort to re-establish gray wolves in the state.

“Industry bullies are trying to undermine the will of voters who want a thriving wolf population in Colorado’s wild areas,” said Alli Henderson, southern Rockies director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The historic work of last year’s reintroduction will be wasted unless the state proceeds with the next wolf releases as planned. We’ll do everything possible to support Colorado’s plans to return wolves to their rightful home range.”

Today marks one year since Colorado’s first release of five gray wolves on state land in Grand County. A second release is planned for early 2025, with 10 to 15 wolves from British Columbia, Canada.

“Coloradans are invested in restoring wolves to our state, and this petition attempts to undermine the democratic intent to achieve a self-sustaining wolf population here,” said Delaney Rudy, Colorado director for the Western Watersheds Project. “The viability of Colorado’s wolf population depends on an influx of individuals and genetic diversity through continued reintroductions without delay.”

In 2020 Colorado voters approved Proposition 114, which requires the wildlife officials to restore a self-sustaining population of wolves to the state starting in 2023. A 2023 management plan requires Colorado Parks and Wildlife to reintroduce 10 to 15 annually, and 30 to 50 wolves total, over three to five years.

“Coloradans voted for wolf restoration. Colorado’s ecosystems need wolves. And Colorado’s tiny, nascent wolf population needs continued reintroductions,” said Lindsay Larris, conservation director for WildEarth Guardians. “This petition is just another in a long line of attempts by a subset of the livestock industry to obstruct state law and undermine the will of Colorado voters.”

A petition submitted to the commission by the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association and 20 other livestock industry and anti-wolf groups calls for wolf reintroductions to be paused until Colorado Parks and Wildlife makes certain changes to its rules aimed at favoring the livestock industry.

Today’s letter from conservation groups says pausing the 2025 release would be disastrous for Colorado’s wolves. Failure to expand their population and gene pool would reduce chances for wolves to reproduce, which is inconsistent with the law’s requirement to establish a self-sustaining wolf population. It also would be a significant waste of taxpayer resources.

"Continued reintroductions are necessary to realize Colorado’s historic, democratically mandated effort to reestablish a self-sustaining wolf population," said Nicholas Arrivo, managing attorney for the Humane Society of the United States. "The petition’s flimsy attempt to skirt the law and the will of the voters should be rejected.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has already developed a more robust program that addresses each of the livestock groups’ concerns and requested changes. These include new tools, support and resources to minimize wolf-livestock conflict, like establishing a range rider program and carcass management best practices. Colorado’s wolf management program also provides compensation for any livestock killed by wolves.

“These livestock groups are asking CPW to break the law in order to make rule changes that were already implemented,” said Tom Delehanty, attorney for Earthjustice. “Their petition provides no valid basis to halt reintroduction efforts. We encourage CPW to follow the law and stay the course.”

"Everything that Colorado Parks and Wildlife has put in motion since spring aims to ensure that our livestock producers have the resources and knowledge necessary to protect their livestock and prevent conflicts,” said Rob Edward, president of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project. “In particular, the work of the ad hoc committee charged with establishing a framework for defining and responding to incidents of ‘chronic’ depredation go to the heart of the petition to pause. By the time CPW Director Davis provides his update at the next commission meeting, the sum of agency actions will render the petition moot."

“Colorado compensates the owners of wolf-killed livestock up to $15,000, the most generous compensation program in the country,” the letter states. “Nonetheless, anti-wolf livestock groups and their allies now seek to disrupt Colorado’s democratically enacted reintroduction effort, claiming deficiencies in the state’s management program.”

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 had dwindled to fewer than 1,000 animals.

An open season on wolves properly managed would work as well as it does on coyotes. trapping and getters and snares would solves the problem Some get gushey over this method, but its all that will work and not hurt the wolf crop and protect the elk and deer herds etc, Experts forget or just plain ignorant by nature as most dont take into consideration that wolves "liter" and may have up to 8 pups whereas deer and elk have twins and most only get one raised for various reasons.

I'd hate to see the wolf totally destroyed and that will never happen, its too late for that so let's go with good management by State gov, not the federal government, who have already proven there lack of knowledge. most of which have never seen a wolf, same with the average American.

quote:

I'd hate to see the wolf totally destroyed and that will never happen, its too late for that so let's go with good management by State gov, not the federal government, who have already proven there lack of knowledge. most of which have never seen a wolf, same with the average American.

It is the over protection that is the problem.

Saw several fresh wolf tracks is morning on my walk

quote:

Originally posted by georgeld:
That vote needs to be reopened!
Polis needs to go too!

George

THIS!!!

Exactly.

I agree on Polis. To quote Dr Seuss I speak for the wolves!

The ballot measure passed by about 1%. Most people in Denver/Boulder don’t care about what happens on the western slope. It’s pitiful how a simple majority vote controls CO.

Ken

More problems;
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news...94bb9a398385f&ei=148

As said many times.

There were very good reason we got rid of them in the past.

https://www.fws.gov/press-rele...wolf-grand-county-co


Press Release

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Seeks Information on Illegal Killing of Gray Wolf in Grand County, CO
Reward Offered for Information on Fatal Shooting of Federally Protected Wolf

Jan 2, 2025
Media Contacts
Joe Szuszwalak

DENVER – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking information regarding the illegal killing of a gray wolf in Grand County, Colorado. The wolf, identified as 2309-OR, was a male that had been captured by Colorado Parks and Wildlife on August 30, 2024, as part of the Copper Creek Pack capture operation. The wolf was in poor condition when captured and died on September 3, 2024. A necropsy revealed that a gunshot wound initiated the poor condition of the wolf and ultimately led to the cause of death. Gray wolves in Colorado are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), making it illegal to harass, harm, or kill them without federal authorization.

The Service is seeking your help by offering a monetary reward for information that significantly furthers the investigation into the death of this wolf.

Anyone with information regarding the death of this wolf, or any other federal wildlife crimes, is urged to contact the Service’s wildlife crime hotline by using any of the following methods: 1-844-FWS-TIPS (397-8477), FWS_TIPS@fws.gov, or https://www.fws.gov/wildlife-crime-tips. The Service is committed to enforcing legal protections and holding individuals accountable for violations of the ESA.

quote:

A necropsy revealed that a gunshot wound initiated the poor condition of the wolf and ultimately led to the cause of death.

Sounds like someone gut shot it and it ran away to die later.

I've read that ranchers have had a very difficult time being reimbursed for livestock killed by wolves. 'Officials' want "proof" that wolves did the deed. What's funny about that is since these wolves are outfitted with GPS collars these officials know where they are and where they have traveled. They sure know when one of them has been shot/dies and can trace their steps to so and so's ranch.

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:

quote:

Originally posted by Pancho:
The wolf advocates are abusing the ESA and the wolf in order to force the legitimate land uses to give up and quit. It's not about wolves - it's about controlling the land.

Exactly. They want humans OUT. They do not want us hunting and being the apex predator either.

no need to hunt no need for guns ... it is coming.

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
I've read that ranchers have had a very difficult time being reimbursed for livestock killed by wolves. 'Officials' want "proof" that wolves did the deed. What's funny about that is since these wolves are outfitted with GPS collars these officials know where they are and where they have traveled. They sure know when one of them has been shot/dies and can trace their steps to so and so's ranch.

in europe to get some money back you need to have some protection set up like shepherd dogs and over 80cm of electried barbewired fences. in the same token alberta is doing a program as well but they already stated that wolf never attack livestock to the throat ...

quote:

Originally posted by medved:

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
I've read that ranchers have had a very difficult time being reimbursed for livestock killed by wolves. 'Officials' want "proof" that wolves did the deed. What's funny about that is since these wolves are outfitted with GPS collars these officials know where they are and where they have traveled. They sure know when one of them has been shot/dies and can trace their steps to so and so's ranch.

in europe to get some money back you need to have some protection set up like shepherd dogs and over 80cm of electried barbewired fences. in the same token alberta is doing a program as well but they already stated that wolf never attack livestock to the throat ...

That's sick. City people need to be cut off from the food supply to really understand the situation.

When I was out and about yester saw a lot of wolf tracks.

Wish we had a season would be so easy to trap one.

I'm surprised there isn't one there.

I remember seeing part of a film on YouTube.

It started by saying there millions of caribou in Alaska.

Most were killed by wolves??!!

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

A necropsy revealed that a gunshot wound initiated the poor condition of the wolf and ultimately led to the cause of death.

Sounds like someone gut shot it and it ran away to die later.

As someone once told me about problem bears, if you shoot them in the belly, they just go away and don't come back.

quote:

As someone once told me about problem bears, if you shoot them in the belly, they just go away and don't come back

I have heard that also.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I remember seeing part of a film on YouTube.

It started by saying there millions of caribou in Alaska.

Most were killed by wolves??!!

cycles of caribou are a little more complicated but it is so easier to blame the wolf and not looking what other problems might have caused that drop ...

quote:

Originally posted by Grizzly Adams1:

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

A necropsy revealed that a gunshot wound initiated the poor condition of the wolf and ultimately led to the cause of death.

Sounds like someone gut shot it and it ran away to die later.

As someone once told me about problem bears, if you shoot them in the belly, they just go away and don't come back.

one year we killed 3 black bears and a grizzly that had older wounds caused by 12 ga shots (certainly pellets) needless to say it did not stop the bears to do what bears are doing ... wounding a bear on purpose is really insane and can create some issues and rise the number of attacks ...

Before my taxidermist friend died.

He said every bear over 200lbs had some type of lead it it.

https://biologicaldiversity.or...NDgwNi4xNzM0MzU3OTY0

For Immediate Release, January 7, 2025

Contact:

Alli Henderson, Center for Biological Diversity, (970) 309-2008, ahenderson@biologicaldiversity.org
Michael Saul, Defenders of Wildlife, (303) 915-8308, msaul@defenders.org
Delia Malone, Colorado Wild, (970) 319-9498, deliamalone@earthlink.net
Courtney Vail, Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, (480) 747-5015, courtney.vail@rockymountainwolfproject.org
Lindsay Larris, WildEarth Guardians, (720) 334-7301, llarris@wildearthguardians.org
Delaney Rudy, Western Watersheds Project, (970) 648-4241, delaney@westernwatersheds.org
Darlene Kobobel, Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, (719) 687-9742, darlene@wolfeducation.org

Reward Soars to Over $100,000 for Info on Killing of Colorado Wolf

GRAND COUNTY, Colo.— The Center for Biological Diversity, conservation partners and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are offering rewards amounting to over $100,000 for information leading to arrests and convictions in the 2024 shooting death of a gray wolf in Colorado.

The Service announced Thursday that a necropsy confirmed that a gunshot wound killed the father of the Copper Creek pack, who died a few days after he was captured at the end of August. The wolf was in poor condition when he was captured, and the necropsy revealed that was caused by a gunshot wound, which led to his death.

The reward amount offered by conservation groups soared over the weekend.

“Every Coloradan should be outraged that a selfish poacher gunned down one of our state’s first reintroduced gray wolves, the father of the historic Copper Creek pack,” said Alli Henderson, southern Rockies director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Shooting this irreplaceable wolf wasn’t just morally wrong — it was also illegal. It’s time for the killer to face justice.”

The Center is offering a $15,000 reward, adding to a standing $50,000 reward from conservation organizations, as well as an undetermined amount offered by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Colorado Wild, Defenders of Wildlife, WildEarth Guardians, Western Watersheds Project and Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center each added an additional $5,000 to the reward amount since Thursday. Another $10,000 has been pledged by individuals. Of the pledged $100,000, $85,000 would be rewarded upon state or federal officials charging an individual or individuals with a crime, while the remainder would be rewarded upon conviction.

“We are absolutely disgusted to learn that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s necropsy of the Copper Creek Pack breeding male has determined that he was killed by illegal shooting,” said Michael Saul, Defenders of Wildlife Rockies and Plains program director. “This loathsome news underscores the need for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to stay the course and not let the bad-faith efforts of anti-wolf extremists distract from carrying out its balanced and thoughtful restoration plan, while this cash reward exemplifies the number of groups committed to working with all Coloradans to ensure a successful wolf reintroduction program.”

The wolf who died, 2309-OR, fathered five pups this spring. The father, mother and four of the pups were captured in late August and early September by Colorado Parks and Wildlife after conflicts with livestock. The father died shortly after he was captured.

“Wolf 2309 (Shadow) was a hero,” said Delia Malone with Colorado Wild. “Against all odds he and his mate, 2312, created a family. We are committed to preserving his legacy. The majority of Coloradans know that the fate of our relative, the wolf, is our fate. Going forward, protecting wolves to ensure that once again their voices bless our vast public wildlands, 2309’s courage and commitment to family will be our guide.”

By wounding the father of the Copper Creek pack, the poacher likely contributed to the wolf-livestock conflicts. Wolf packs that are not strong and healthy enough to bring down wild ungulates, like elk and deer, are often forced to turn to vulnerable livestock. This is especially the case if livestock are not closely watched with guard dogs or range riders, or if other appropriate nonlethal coexistence measures are not properly used.

“Someone out there knows who has been shooting at wolves. Regardless of your sympathies, poaching is unethical, immoral and illegal. Informants can work with law enforcement to maintain anonymity, and to make things right,” said Courtney Vail, board chair of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project. “Not only have the perpetrators wasted taxpayer funds meant for ranchers to adapt to wolves, they also inflamed the conflict, fueling online threats that perpetuate the culture war. This ugliness represents the worst of us and distracts from the success stories of livestock producers on the ground in Colorado who have prepared for wolves, implemented nonlethal conflict reduction tools, and experienced no livestock losses this past season.”

“Wolves belong in Colorado, and our outdoors is healthier with them here,” said Lindsay Larris, conservation director at WildEarth Guardians. “It should be concerning to all Coloradans that an individual can cruelly maim a living creature — an endangered species nonetheless — with impunity. We encourage anyone with information about the illegal shooting of this Copper Creek wolf to contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and receive your well-earned monetary award.”

“The shot taken at wolf 2309 caused conflict and tragedy, and we hope that this reward will bring the perpetrator to justice,” said Delaney Rudy, Colorado director with Western Watersheds Project. “Poaching is not tolerated in Colorado, and killing this wolf was a criminal action under the Endangered Species Act. We are confident that a wildlife hero will bring forward information that leads to justice.”

“As long as there are humans who want to rule, conquer, believe they are entitled, do not respect predators, and refuse to coexist, there will always be a war on wolves,” said Darlene Kobobel, president and founder of the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center. “We who believe that wolves belong and are part of the landscape that makes it whole need to forever be a voice. Never Let The Howl Go Silent!”

Anyone with information regarding the death of this wolf is urged to contact the Service’s wildlife crime hotline: (844) FWS-TIPS (397-8477), FWS_TIPS@fws.gov or https://www.fws.gov/wildlife-crime-tips.

If the wolf was shot then it was on someone's land killing their livestock.

There's hope to have the reintroduction of the wolves in Colorado halted. We'll see....

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news...0b8caecbaf9b90&ei=47

That is a long list of BS. in that article.

https://biologicaldiversity.or...NDgwNi4xNzM0MzU3OTY0


For Immediate Release, January 8, 2025

Contact:

Alli Henderson, Center for Biological Diversity, (970) 309-2008, ahenderson@biologicaldiversity.org
Lindsay Larris, WildEarth Guardians, (720) 334-7301, llaris@wildearthguardians.org
Delaney Rudy, Western Watersheds Project, (970) 648-4241, delaney@westernwatersheds.org
Aubyn Royall, The Humane Society of the United States, (303) 669-4021, aroyall@humanesociety.org
Rob Edward, Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, (970) 236-1942, rob.edward@rockymountainwolfproject.org
Perry Wheeler, Earthjustice, (202) 792-6211, pwheeler@earthjustice.org

Colorado Rejects Livestock Industry Attempt to Stop Wolf Reintroduction

DENVER— 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 the state's wolf management plan and waste the taxpayer resources used to establish the 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.

quote:

Scientists estimate that as many as 2 million gray wolves once roamed North America, including much of the contiguous United States

With no proof what's so ever.

https://biologicaldiversity.or...NDgwNi4xNzM0MzU3OTY0


For Immediate Release, January 19, 2025

Contact:

Alli Henderson, (970) 309-2008, ahenderson@biologicaldiversity.org

Colorado Completes Second Round of Wolf Releases in Historic Reintroduction, Releases Captured Copper Creek Pack

DENVER, Colo.— Colorado Parks and Wildlife released 15 gray wolves in Eagle and Pitkin counties over the course of three days last week. It was the second of several planned releases in the historic effort to re-establish a wolf population in Colorado.

“Like a majority of my fellow Coloradans I’m thrilled to welcome our newest wolf residents to their new and rightful home,” said Alli Henderson, southern Rockies director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “This release is a big step toward righting the historical wrong of wolf extermination in our state and fulfilling the will of the voters who supported this restoration. Wolves belong in Colorado, and I look forward to the day when we achieve a self-sustaining population.”

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.

The release of 15 wolves was the result of a partnership with British Columbia, Canada, where the wolves were moved from. The Canadian wolves have no history of interaction or conflict with livestock.

It comes on the heels of a livestock industry attempt to derail the program by asking the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to pause this year’s release. Commissioners rejected that request in line with the recommendation of Colorado wildlife director Jeff Davis, who said the state has made changes to the reintroduction program to reduce conflict with livestock. The vote was 10-1, upholding the will of the voters and showing confidence in the state wildlife agency’s administration of the program.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife also announced the release into the wild a young gray wolf mother and her four pups who had been held in captivity since last summer. The Copper Creek pack was the first litter of wolf pups born under the state’s reintroduction program. Their re-release represents a critical step in the restoration of the species to their rightful home within Colorado.

“I’m thrilled to hear that this wolf family is back in the wild,” said Henderson. “With so few wolves in Colorado, this family will play a leading role in restoring a self-sustaining population. The state wildlife agency did they right thing by releasing them.”

Last year Colorado Parks and Wildlife developed robust programs that are vital for keeping livestock and wolves alive, programs the agency continues to implement. These include cow carcass removal and handling, a state range rider program, a rapid response team to address conflicts, non-lethal conflict resources and education, and site assessments to identify and deploy non-lethal coexistence measures.

“The unfortunate situation that led to this family being captured in the first place was entirely preventable,” said Henderson. “There’s no excuse for livestock producers who chose not to take advantage of the state’s increased resources, education and funding to avoid and mitigate conflicts. I hope we’ll see more and more people showing leadership in the ranching community by using these tools to prevent needless suffering.”

Predation of wolves on livestock across the ranges they inhabit account for a small percentage of livestock deaths. In the northern Rockies, over 86% of livestock deaths are attributed to disease and birthing problems, with predation from wolves resulting in less than 1% of deaths. In Colorado, livestock producers can receive fair market value and up to $15,000 per animal for livestock and animals used for guard/herding purposes if a predation incident is confirmed by the wildlife agency.

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.

I don’t understand why the wolves would be released in the dead of winter.

Ken

quote:

Originally posted by KDGJ:
I don’t understand why the wolves would be released in the dead of winter.

Ken

Simple so when the spring pups come they consider that area home.