DENVER – On Wednesday, January 8, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission will determine whether to accept or reject a petition from the livestock industry calling for a pause on the state’s gray wolf reintroduction efforts.
Livestock Industry Petition
The petition, submitted by the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association and 20 other groups, requests that wolf reintroductions be paused until CPW revises its rules to better accommodate the livestock industry. The petition comes in response to Colorado's voter-approved wolf reintroduction program.
At 1:40 PM, CPW Director Jeff Davis will present his recommendation to deny the petition, citing that the state has already met the petitioners' conditions. Conservation advocates, including Lindsay Larris of WildEarth Guardians, will be available to comment and provide insight into the decision-making process.
Public Testimony and Commission Vote
Following a period of public testimony, the CPW Commission is expected to vote on whether to approve or reject the petition by the end of the meeting at 5:00 PM. The full agenda can be viewed here.
Conservation groups, including WildEarth Guardians, have strongly opposed the petition, arguing that halting the reintroduction of wolves would harm efforts to establish a sustainable wolf population in Colorado. They warn that stopping the planned 2025 release could escalate conflicts with livestock and hinder the wolves' ability to reproduce, undermining the intent of the law.
In 2020, Colorado voters approved Proposition 114, which mandates the reintroduction of gray wolves to the state. Under the 2023 management plan, CPW is required to release 10 to 15 wolves annually for the next three to five years, with a target of 30 to 50 wolves. A release of 10 gray wolves took place in December 2023 in Grand and Summit counties, and a second release is scheduled for early 2025, with 10 to 15 wolves from British Columbia, Canada.
About WildEarth Guardians
WildEarth Guardians is a conservation nonprofit committed to protecting and restoring wildlife, wild places, rivers, and ecosystems in the American West. With offices across multiple states and over 179,000 members, the organization advocates for the protection of the environment and the preservation of native species.
