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Grand County commissioners to draft letter condemning CPW wolf relocation
Summary
Livestock producers and residents told commissioners that Colorado Parks and Wildlife relocated a known depredating wolf (2403) into Grand County in possible violation of the state wolf plan; commissioners directed staff to draft a letter to CPW and federal officials expressing the county's concerns and copying their congressional delegation.
Doug Bruchey, a fifth‑generation rancher and member of the Middle Park Habitat Partnership Program, urged the commissioners to publicly rebuke Colorado Parks and Wildlife for returning a known depredator to Grand County. "I'm here today to ask the board to condemn the actions of CPW bringing this wolf back to Grand County and to ask this board to demand that CPW follow the wolf plan," he said during the public‑comment period.
Commissioners heard similar testimony from other producers and residents who said the Copper Creek pack had a documented history of livestock depredations and that CPW had at times failed to follow the management rules adopted in Colorado's wolf plan. County staff summarized the public comments and recommended that the board make its concerns explicit to state and federal officials.
The board directed county staff, working with Commissioner Linke and stakeholders including the sheriff and Middle Park Stockgrowers, to draft a letter to CPW and the governor describing the county's view that the agency did not follow the plan and to copy the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the county's congressional delegation. Commissioners said the sheriff may prepare a separate or supporting letter highlighting public‑safety and resource impacts.
No formal legal action was authorized at the meeting; commissioners discussed that legal options had been informally explored by counsel but that filing suit would require further study and a separate decision.
