DENVER — A fresh wave of wolf reintroductions is taking place in Colorado as part of a politically charged initiative that allows voters to support the return of these predators to the state.
Fifteen gray wolves, sourced from Canada, were released into the central mountainous regions over a three-day period last week, although the state’s wildlife management agency only disclosed the action the following Sunday.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife revealed that staff members experienced safety threats, including worrying social media activity and intimidating phone calls.
Additionally, a female wolf along with four pups, which had been previously released in another part of Colorado, were relocated to merge with the Canadian wolves in the Eagle and Pitkin counties.
This area is known for its ski resorts and extensive public lands that attract a variety of recreational activities.
The five relocated wolves were part of a pack captured earlier in August after a male from this group was involved in the repeated killing of local livestock in Grand County, situated northwest of Denver, according to statements from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The newly introduced Canadian wolves comprise seven males and eight females, captured in the central interior of British Columbia with support from local authorities in a region where wolf populations sometimes face culling efforts to assist dwindling caribou numbers, as stated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Hillary Ward from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship of British Columbia remarked on the cooperation, saying, “It has been an honor to work with Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff to support their conservation priority.
This serves as a prime illustration of collaboration and the connectivity we share across the vast landscapes of North America.”
In 2020, residents primarily from urban areas voted in favor of wolf reintroduction, a decision that created a rift with rural residents concerned about potential livestock attacks.
Since the initial release of ten wolves just over a year ago, there have been more than two dozen reports of livestock losses attributed to wolves.
Furthermore, two of the ten wolves that were introduced in December 2023 were reportedly shot illegally, according to the state wildlife agency.
Looking ahead, Colorado officials are planning to release between 30 to 50 wolves over the next five years, aiming to restore one of the final significant territories for the species in the Western United States, where their historical range once spanned from northern Canada to the desert Southwest.
