Livestock Losses And Budget Overruns Fuel Federal Review of Colorado’s Wolf Program

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics

Federal wildlife officials have opened a formal review of Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program, launching a public comment period to assess how the state has handled rising conflicts between wolves and livestock.

A notice from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was published in the Federal Register on Monday, setting a June 5 deadline for the comments.

The notice says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking information on how Colorado has implemented the federal 10(j) rule issued in 2023. It also explains that the agency signed a memorandum of understanding with Colorado Parks and Wildlife outlining goals, such as providing timely public updates on the restoration program, conducting outreach, and carrying out proactive measures — including both nonlethal and lethal control — to reduce or resolve conflicts between wolves and livestock.

The federal wildlife agency is seeking comments on how the agreement has been implemented, including conflict‑prevention efforts and suggestions for improving the program. The agency is also requesting information on the impact of wolves on wild ungulate herds, such as elk and moose, on tribal lands, as well as on how Colorado has carried out procedures for nonlethal and lethal management of wolves causing unacceptable impacts.

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