On May 5, 2005, the Colorado Wildlife Commission agreed to accept the Colorado Wolf Management Working Group's (CWMWG) policy allowing migrating wolves from Yellowstone National Park and the Arizona-New Mexico borders to roam freely in Colorado. This decision came after a public comment period earlier this year and with a unanimous vote by all 14 members of the CWMWG.
The CWMWG was appointed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) last year to develop recommendations on how wolves should be managed if they were to migrate into Colorado. The group, which consists of sportsmen, ranchers, conservationists, wildlife biologists and local government officials, presented their recommendations in January of this year and drew praise from the Colorado Wildlife Commission and the DOW.
Although wolves will be allowed to roam throughout Colorado without being harassed, the plan calls for a program to compensate for depredation of livestock by wolves. However, work must be done to create compensation funds as losses may not be paid with money raised from existing game-damage funds or license fees. Some people hope that environmental groups will contribute to a depredation fund.
Although wolves are designated as "endangered" in Colorado, lethal control of depredating wolves may be an option through an as yet to be determined permit process.
The recent federal court ruling reclassifying the gray wolf throughout the contiguous United States will affect state management plans by pushing them into the future, However, Bruce McCloskey, DOW director, stated, "Just having a plan is a major step forward in dealing with an endangered species."
This decision did not come without its share of controversy though. While polls show that the majority of Coloradoans would welcome the return of wolves, many in the livestock industry remain doubtful.
Jean Stetson, a third-generation rancher on the commission, is caught between a rock and a hard place. She is accused of "selling out" against her ranching community by even allowing a single wolf in the state. "There's one faction in the state that wants wolves here now. We have another faction that says, 'Hell no-I'll shoot every one I see," she stated.
Regardless of what opponents to the policy say, the next step is to develop a recovery plan for wolves in Colorado. There are still many questions about how to deal with numerous packs as well as whether Colorado should reintroduce wolves. Reintroduction may be necessary to ensure a sustained presence of wolves in the state.
The DOW receives wolf sightings, but none has been confirmed since June 2004 when a young, dispersing female from Yellowstone was killed in a vehicle collision on Interstate 70 near Idaho Springs.
For more information:
Visit the news section for current and past news stories regarding wolves in the Southern Rockies.
Colorado Division of Wildlife; Species Conservation: Gray Wolf Management
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
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