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In November 2020, Colorado voters narrowly approved Proposition 114 with the expectation that gray wolf restoration would be implemented in a careful, science-driven, and accountable manner.
The statute directed Colorado Parks and Wildlife to establish a viable, self-sustaining population while minimizing harm to livestock, wildlife, and rural communities, and envisioned an initial release of 30-50 wolves over several years to build toward that goal. It's widely considered to be a failure in our state, and now the Feds are signaling intervention.
From Representative Jeff Crank on X:
"Colorado’s Gray Wolf Reintroduction Program forced wolves onto rural Coloradans w/o their consent. Rather than letting science guide species management, urban cities of Denver & Boulder forced Colorado Parks & Wildlife to start importing wolves into the state through a ballot initiative."
The representative continued, "It’s important to me that state and federal partners are responsibly managing species and not tied by 'ballot box biology.' It doesn’t work, and we are seeing that in the wolf re-introduction. CPW is failing to comply with their management plan and the terms of the US Fish & Wildlife 10(j) permit. Only 60% of the wolves introduced have survived, below the REQUIRED minimum of 70% under Colorado’s own management plan. I fully support Director Nesvik’s authority to conduct a full scope review of the Wolf Re-introduction Program. I appreciate him listening to my concerns with the program and assuring me US Fish & Wildlife would include the survival rate as part of their review."
The wolf reintroduction has been a disaster, for the wolves and for the ranchers, the cattle, and the other predatory species in Colorado. The wolves are being managed under Section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act precisely because Congress recognized that experimental populations require careful coordination, flexibility, and transparency.
We haven't seen evidence of those things yet, but there is new leadership now.
Save the wolves (from Colorado Democrats).
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