Colorado wolf program under federal review as Interior weighs new rules for killing wolves

By Tracy Ross | The Colorado Sun

Three wolves killed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife between Sept. 7 and 9 were from separate packs in western Colorado and all attacked livestock on ranches the agency said were using nonlethal tools to keep the predators from their livestock. 

In reports released this week, CPW said the shootings “were conducted in line with CPW’s statutory and regulatory authority,” and done under careful consideration of how to discourage further attacks without compromising the wolves’ ability to survive. 

Lethal removals are allowed under the federal 10(j) rule, which lets CPW kill wolves that have preyed on livestock under certain circumstances. But the agency’s use of the rule is under scrutiny by the federal government, which has indicated that CPW may not be doing enough to ease the burden of reintroduction on ranchers. 

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