Colorado Wolf Reintroduction May Have Violated Federal Law

By: Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado

A plan to import 15 more wolves to Colorado from Canada may violate federal law. 

Wolves are listed as an endangered species here, so Colorado Parks and Wildlife needs a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to relocate wolves here from other states. The permit issued by USFWS in 2023 lists six states where Colorado can source wolves. It doesn’t list Canada, where CPW got 15 wolves last year and plans to get another 15 wolves this year.

Former congressman and current gubernatorial candidate Greg Lopez says USFWS dropped the ball by allowing CPW to import wolves from Canada, which he says is a clear violation of its federal permit. 

“The terms and conditions are that they can only get wolves from the Northern Rocky Mountains. They identify those states by name,” said Lopez.

The states listed in the permit are Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and parts of Washington, Oregon, and Utah. 

“If they go to Canada, it’s not allowed in the permit, and it’s also against the law to import wolves from another country,” says Lopez.

He spearheaded a letter signed by groups representing outfitters, wool growers, ranchers, and farmers that puts USFWS on notice of the violation.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT CBS COLORADO