Wolf Reintroduction Costs Mount as Colorado Faces Another Budget Shortfall

By: Ali Longwell | The Aspen Times

A Joint Budget Committee briefing looked at how Parks and Wildlife has spent general fund allocations on wolves.

Colorado lawmakers continue to raise questions about the cost of the state’s wolf reintroduction during the early phases of the annual budgeting process for 2026.

On Tuesday, Dec. 9, the Joint Budget Committee was briefed by committee staff on the 2026 budget for the Department of Natural Resources, which includes Colorado Parks and Wildlife. 

It’s the second step in the legislature’s budget process. Next, the committee will hold a hearing in January with the Department of Natural Resources to answer lawmakers’ questions and discuss its budget priorities.

The briefing on Tuesday reopened conversations that had been had between the department and committee last year on what Colorado’s wolf program is costing, how state dollars are being spent and whether cuts to the program would be possible.

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