Speakers urge bison restoration and stronger bighorn disease protections; advocates press for wildlife crossings and rehab policy updates

Multiple speakers urged the Parks and Wildlife Commission to advance species‑specific policies beyond wolves.

Jan Zinkl called for a formal bison restoration framework, tribal consultation and a full‑time bison biologist to plan habitat and ensure a genetically viable, free‑roaming herd before any hunting is authorized. "We need to restore bison in Colorado for a number of reasons, two of which are historical accountability and moral repair," Zinkl said.

Speakers representing Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society and others stressed that respiratory disease is the top threat to bighorn sheep and urged stronger separation between domestic sheep and wild herds to prevent pathogen transmission. Delaney Rudy (Western Watersheds Project) praised recent staff presentations and urged proactive measures to control domestic‑sheep vectors that threaten wild sheep.

Andrew Rothman (Environment America/Environment Colorado) recommended CPW support investments in wildlife crossings to reduce vehicle collisions, citing a CDOT estimate that collisions with large animals cost about $80 million annually and that crossings can reduce collisions by up to 90% where placed effectively.

Several commenters—Rich Miller and Commissioner Murphy among them—supported regulatory changes to allow licensed wildlife rehabilitators to perform in‑field treatment for mange to reduce mortality and logistical burdens on rehab centers and stressed capture‑related stress and quarantine constraints under current rules.

Commissioners acknowledged these topics and encouraged follow‑up: staff noted ongoing disease‑management work for bighorn sheep and committed to coordination with federal land managers; commissioners asked staff to continue outreach and planning on bison restoration and to consider regulatory options for in‑field wildlife treatment.