Trump Mandates Colorado Wolves Source from U.S. Rockies, Excludes Canada
The Trump administration has mandated that Colorado cease importing gray wolves from Canada, affecting the state’s wildlife restoration efforts. The decision shifts the focus to sourcing wolves exclusively from the northern Rocky Mountain states, complicating plans to reintroduce the predators this winter.
Background on Colorado’s Wolf Reintroduction
Colorado voters approved a wolf reintroduction initiative in 2020. Since then, the state has been releasing gray wolves west of the Continental Divide, with approximately 30 wolves currently inhabiting the mountainous regions. The long-term management plan aims for a population of 200 or more wolves.
Federal Directive and Its Impact
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service directed that Colorado may only use wolves sourced from northern Rockies states.
- States such as Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, part of the Yellowstone region, refuse to supply wolves for Colorado’s reintroduction.
- This leaves Colorado facing challenges in meeting reintroduction goals for the upcoming winter.
Colorado plans to relocate 10 to 15 wolves, based on an agreement with British Columbia’s Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. This agreement was established prior to the directive from the Fish and Wildlife Service, which was communicated in a letter dated October 10.
Evaluation of Options
Despite the federal directive, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is actively exploring alternatives to support this year’s gray wolf releases. The agency is in contact with the Interior Department regarding the implications of the recent guidance from federal officials.
Legal and Conservation Perspectives
- Environmental advocates argue that the restriction on sourcing wolves from Canada is a misinterpretation of prior federal guidelines.
- Defenders of Wildlife attorney Lisa Saltzburg criticized the Fish and Wildlife Service for “twisting language” regarding wolf sources.
Governor Jared Polis’s office continues to engage with federal representatives to assess all available options to ensure the continuation of the wolf reintroduction program, which emphasizes the state’s commitment to conservation and wildlife coexistence.
