Colorado has taken a major step towards fulfilling the will of the voters who approved the reintroduction of gray wolves to the state in 2020.
The state has reached an agreement with Oregon to receive up to 10 wolves from the neighboring state, which has a healthy and resilient wolf population.
The agreement and the capture process
THOMAS KIENZLE/AFP via Getty Images
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced on Friday, October 6, that it had signed a one-year agreement with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to obtain up to 10 wolves from northeastern Oregon.
The agreement is the result of a months-long search for a state willing to provide wolves for Colorado's voter-mandated reintroduction of the species.
CPW staff will capture the wolves in Oregon using helicopters and spotter planes between December 2023 and March 2024.
The captured wolves will be flown or trucked down to western Colorado for release as soon as possible. CPW will be responsible for all costs of capturing and transporting the wolves.
All captured wolves will be tested and treated for disease on-site in Oregon.
Those with significant injuries, such as missing eyes or mange, will not be transported to the state.
CPW will also make efforts to transplant wolves that have not been involved in repeated depredations, meaning attacks on livestock or domestic animals.
ODFW Director Curt Melcher said in a press release that Oregon has a long history of helping other states meet their conservation goals by providing animals for translocation efforts.
He added that some of Oregon's wildlife populations were also restored thanks to other states doing the same for them, such as Rocky Mountain elk, bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat.
CPW plans to release the wolves on its own land between Glenwood Springs, Vail and the Roaring Fork Valley.
This area is part of the Western Slope, where most of the opposition to wolf reintroduction comes from.
Many ranchers, hunters and local officials in this region have expressed concerns about the potential impacts of wolves on their livelihoods, wildlife populations and public safety.
CPW has said that it will work with stakeholders to address their issues and implement measures to minimize conflicts and compensate for losses.
The agency has also created a Wolf Management Advisory Council, composed of representatives from various interest groups, to provide input and guidance on wolf management in Colorado.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis praised the agreement with Oregon and said that Colorado was now one step closer to fulfilling the will of the voters in time.
He also said that he was confident that CPW would successfully reintroduce wolves in a way that works for Colorado's communities, economy and ecology.
The deadline for releasing the first batch of wolves in Colorado is December 31, according to Proposition 114, the ballot measure that passed by a narrow margin in 2020.
The measure also requires CPW to restore and manage a self-sustaining population of gray wolves by December 31, 2029.
Colorado was once home to thousands of gray wolves, but they were eradicated by the 1940s due to hunting, trapping and poisoning.
The last confirmed sighting of a wild wolf in Colorado was in 1945. Since then, only a few lone wolves have been spotted or killed in the state, most likely dispersing from other states.
Gray wolves are native predators that play an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They can help control prey populations, such as deer and elk, and benefit other species, such as beavers and birds. They can also generate tourism revenue and enhance public appreciation for nature.
However, gray wolves are also controversial animals that can pose challenges for human coexistence.
They can prey on livestock and pets, compete with hunters for game animals and elicit fear and resentment from some people.
They can also trigger legal battles over their protection status and management authority.
Colorado is not the first state to reintroduce gray wolves. In the mid-1990s, federal agencies reintroduced wolves from Canada to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho.
Since then, wolves have expanded their range and established populations in Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.
The success of wolf recovery in these states has also led to conflicts and controversies over their management.
Some states have enacted laws or policies that allow or encourage hunting or trapping of wolves, while others have maintained or increased their protection.
The federal government has also changed the status of wolves under the Endangered Species Act several times, resulting in lawsuits and uncertainty.
Colorado's wolf reintroduction program will likely face similar challenges and opportunities as it unfolds in the coming years.
The state will have to balance the needs and interests of various stakeholders, as well as the ecological and ethical implications of restoring a native predator.
The agreement with Oregon is a significant milestone, but it is only the beginning of a long and complex process.
