Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildlife Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners ask Colorado Parks and Wildlife to pause further wolf releases, seek tools for ranchers and landowners
Summary
After reports of recent wolf releases into western Colorado, the board voted to send a formal letter asking Colorado Parks and Wildlife to pause further releases on the West Slope and to adopt specific protections and tools for landowners and livestock producers.
Garfield County commissioners on Jan. 20 voted to send a formal letter to Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado Parks and Wildlife leadership requesting an immediate pause on additional gray-wolf releases on the West Slope and calling for defined protections and management tools for livestock producers, landowners and communities.
The board’s letter follows reports that the state released wolves into areas near Pitkin and Eagle counties and after county staff reviewed maps and correspondence from CPW showing the animals’ introduction locations. Commissioners and staff said the release window appears smaller than what voters approved under Proposition 114 and that landowners need clearer definitions and better tools to manage chronic depredation, carcass removal, compensation processes and other mitigations promised during the ballot campaign.
Why it matters: The commissioners said they support legal and science-based wildlife management but raised concerns that more releases without additional safeguards could increase human-wildlife conflicts with private property and livestock in western Garfield County, Missouri Heights and nearby communities.
Details: The board’s letter asks CPW to reconsider its policy on additional releases in the West Slope areas identified by the agency, and lists specific requests: (1) clarity and a definition for “chronic depredation,” (2) timely implementation of compensation and livestock-protection tools, (3) local stakeholder engagement before further releases, and (4) distribution of the letter to neighboring counties and partner agencies. Commissioners also discussed organizing regional partners to consider future ballot efforts to revisit the ballot initiative.
Outcome: The BOCC approved the letter and directed county staff to forward it to CPW leadership and to partner counties and associations. Commissioners asked staff to circulate the letter to nearby counties that have expressed similar concerns.
Ending: The BOCC will track CPW’s response and said it will continue outreach to neighboring counties and state legislators to coordinate any further action on reintroduction policy or ballot initiatives.
