Health risks and legal violations plague Colorado wolf introduction program
On Jan. 9, the Colorado Conservation Alliance, Inc. (CCA) provided an update on mounting concerns surrounding Colorado’s wolf introduction program, including confirmation non-native gray wolves released into Colorado have tested positive for Echinococcus granulosus, a dangerous tapeworm causing hydatid disease.
This pathogen was previously unknown in Colorado before the introduction of the wolf, raising serious public health concerns as the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) rushes to expand the controversial program.
The health risk compounds a series of legal and procedural violations by state agencies, including violations of federal environmental laws, strong opposition from Native American Tribes, disregard for voter-approved introduction zones and a rush to import Canadian wolves despite mounting concerns.
Environmental review
CCA has filed a lawsuit against CPW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for failing to complete required federal environmental reviews before releasing wolves.
Specifically, the agencies failed to conduct an environmental impact statement required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), submit updated resource management plans (RMP) to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for federal lands where wolves were released and honor their own commitment not to introduce wolves with a history of livestock predation.
CCA seeks to suspend further wolf releases until CPW and FWS complete the required NEPA process and submit proper RMPs to the BLM. These federal requirements are designed to protect the environment and affected communities.
Strong Tribal opposition
The Southern Ute Tribe has repeatedly warned against the program’s threats to their sovereign rights and resources.
In a June 4, 2021 letter, the Tribe expressed “concern restoration of the gray wolf would present an unacceptable risk to hunting resources.”
A follow-up letter on Feb. 21, 2023 detailed additional threats to their hunting rights across 3,700,000 acres under the 1874 Brunot Agreement; livestock on Southern Ute Reservation lands and the genetically-distinct Mexican Wolf population in New Mexico.
The Tribe’s concerns led FWS to grant them authority for lethal control of wolves impacting ungulate populations on Tribal lands.
Additionally, the Confederation Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington withdrew their authorization to provide wolves after learning CPW had failed to consult properly with the Southern Ute Tribe.
Violation of voter intent
Despite Colorado voters specifically approving wolf introduction “West of the Continental Divide” from New Mexico to Wyoming, CPW signed an agreement on Dec. 23, 2024, prohibiting wolf releases across 5,806 square miles of southwestern Colorado.
This exclusion zone includes Southern Ute hunting grounds and territory within 60 miles of the Utah border, dramatically restricting the voter-approved introduction area.
Unable to source wolves domestically, CPW plans to import wolves from British Columbia, Canada in January 2025, despite formal opposition from CCA.
Urgent call to action
CPW held a hybrid public meeting on Jan. 9 in Denver.
CCA urged Colorado residents, particularly those from counties which voted against wolf introduction to attend or submit comments demanding immediate suspension of further non-native gray wolf releases until federal environmental requirements are met, protection for counties opposing introduction through memorandum of understanding agreements similar to those granted to the Southern Utes to protect their Tribal hunting grounds and Utah to create a wolf exclusion zone between Colorado and Utah and comprehensive health screening and monitoring protocols.
The public can submit comments to dnr_cpwcommission@state.co.us or online at cpw.state.co.us.
CCA is a Colorado nonprofit corporation dedicated to protecting Colorado’s outdoor heritage and wildlife habitats through responsible, science-based wildlife management. For more information or to support CCA’s legal action, visit cocoal.org.
