Garfield County adopts resolution backing federal delisting of gray wolf, urges state management transfer

The Garfield County Commission voted to adopt a resolution supporting the federal delisting of the gray wolf in Utah and urging transfer of management authority to the state.

Speaker 9, who introduced the draft, said the county’s request seeks to move gray wolf management from federal to state control so that “the state would do a better job than the federal government” addressing local concerns. Commissioner-level discussion cited livestock impacts and past enforcement interactions with federal wildlife authorities as rationale for state management.

Commissioner Speaker 3 moved to adopt the measure identified during the meeting as “2025-5”; Speaker 1 seconded the motion. The commission approved the resolution by voice vote.

The resolution asks the state to assume management responsibility and cites recovered wolf populations in several western regions as part of its rationale. Commissioners who supported the measure said they expect state management would allow more direct response to livestock depredation and local stakeholder input.

Next steps noted at the meeting: formalizing the resolution text for transmittal to state representatives and coordinating with neighboring counties that have adopted similar resolutions. The commission did not record a roll-call vote with individual member votes on the public record in the transcript excerpt provided; the action was carried by voice vote and recorded as approved at the meeting.