A new rule allowing wolf kills in Colorado will also green light reintroduction

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a decision that will allow for the killing of wolves in Colorado, if they are found to be predating on livestock. This decision is a win for ranchers who have long been fighting against the Endangered Species Act's protection of wolves.

But while this may be seen as a victory for some, it could be short-lived as appeals to overturn previous efforts to delist wolves as an endangered species are being litigated in U.S. District Court. But an effort by Congresswoman Lauren Boebert to also delist wolves is gaining momentum in Congress.

For the wolves set to be reintroduced into Colorado, this news may come as a warning - they would be wise to learn to stay away from livestock. And this sentiment is shared by both supporters and non-supporters of the reintroduction effort.

But with the finalization of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision, it looks like there will be no legal obstacles left to challenge the reintroduction by the December 2023 deadline, as set by the voters in 2020's Proposition 114.

Rob Edward, a longtime advocate for wolf reintroduction, sees this as a major step forward in his 30-year-long fight.

"Right now, I don't see any litigation on the horizon from the environmental side," he said.

And with Governor Jared Polis vetoing a bill that would have hindered the reintroduction process during litigation, it seems like the path is clear for the wolves to be released in Colorado this year.

But according to former Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission Chair Jim Pribyl, there is still the possibility of opposition and litigation from groups who are against wolf reintroduction.

"If history is any guide, somebody will try to object," he said, citing previous examples of resistance during wolf reintroductions in Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s.

But unlike the Yellowstone reintroduction, this effort will not have involvement from federal agencies and will solely take place on state-owned and private lands. This may even see high-profile Coloradans like Governor Polis attending the release event.

This map shows two potential wolf release areas, circled in red. The areas were selected because they are west of the Continental Divide, have lower potential for human-wolf conflict and are at least 60 miles from state lines. (Courtesy photo)

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has already identified potential release areas for the wolves, with the first-year releases occurring along the I-70 and Highway 82 corridors. And according to Edward, these areas were chosen, taking into consideration social tolerance and the counties that voted in favor of wolf reintroduction.

But once released, the wolves are expected to disperse quickly to other areas, including the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, Grand Mesa, and Gunnison National Forest. The South San Juan area is also identified as a potential habitat for the wolves, according to a map published by the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project.