CPW

Wolves roam, pups are born, riders deployed—but land-use plans still stuck in 2023

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, State, Top Stories / / , , , , , , , , ,

Wolves are roaming, ranchers are riding – but the rulebook hasn’t changed. Wolves are traveling farther, forming dens and producing pups. Many have turned up dead—especially in Wyoming, where wolves that prey on livestock can be killed on sight under state law. 

Yet not one federal or state land-use plan in Colorado has been updated since gray wolf reintroduction began in December 2023.

That’s the backdrop for Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s May 13 press release announcing that its Range Rider Program is fully operational and patrolling western Colorado. 

Eleven contracted riders hired by CPW have joined two staff from the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) to monitor livestock, haze predators and report signs of wolf-livestock conflict across nine counties.

Wolves roam, pups are born, riders deployed—but land-use plans still stuck in 2023 Read More »

Wolf reintroduction strains rural Colorado as payouts outpace budget

Westword, Approved, State / / , , , , ,

Colorado is eighteen months into the state’s wolf restoration project, and the teeth are still coming out.

So far, the state has paid over $370,000 in claims to ranchers who have been impacted by the presence of wolves near their operations. Although wolf advocates and detractors both agree that Colorado should compensate people for wolf-related losses, ranchers believe the funds are not enough to cover the full breadth of the impact of the carnivores in this state. Conversely, wildlife advocates question if some of the reimbursements that ranchers have claimed are a good use of taxpayer money.

Wolf reintroduction strains rural Colorado as payouts outpace budget Read More »

Colorado Parks and Wildlife settles with hunting groups that sued claiming commissioners violated open meetings rules

State, Approved, The Colorado Sun / / ,

Two influential hunting organizations that sued members of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission claiming they violated Colorado Open Meetings Law and spread false information about mountain lion hunting say they agreed to a small cash payment and the promise that commissioners would be trained in open meetings law and the agency’s rules around hunting lions, lynx and bobcats.  

Colorado Parks and Wildlife settles with hunting groups that sued claiming commissioners violated open meetings rules Read More »

CPW confirms second gray wolf reintroduced to Colorado dies in Wyoming

DENVER7, Approved, State / / , ,

For the second time this year, a gray wolf that was translocated to Colorado from Canada as part of the second round of reintroductions has died in Wyoming.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) sent a brief press release about the second death around 6:45 p.m. Friday, saying they had learned about the male wolf’s death in Wyoming on April 9. The wolf was part of the 15 animals — which included seven males — that had been captured in British Columbia earlier this year and brought to Colorado.

CPW confirms second gray wolf reintroduced to Colorado dies in Wyoming Read More »

Rewriting the rules: Wolves, federal reform and a lawsuit from rural Colorado

Top Stories, Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State / / , , , , , , , , ,

Late last year, five wolves were airlifted from Oregon to Colorado under a plan voters narrowly approved—but few knew one of them came from a pack with a history of livestock attacks. 

Fewer still knew the move may have violated federal law.

At the center of the controversy is a growing belief that Colorado’s wolf reintroduction bypassed environmental law and public transparency. 

And a federal lawsuit now threatens to unravel the entire plan.

Rewriting the rules: Wolves, federal reform and a lawsuit from rural Colorado Read More »

Rio Blanco County hires deputy trained to investigate livestock depredation

Top Stories, Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice / / , ,

Responding to concerns of livestock growers and community members, and to assist in investigating livestock depredations that occur in Rio Blanco County, commissioners have authorized the sheriff’s office to hire their first Animal and Livestock Conflict Investigator.

Rio Blanco County hires deputy trained to investigate livestock depredation Read More »

‘Everyone feels anxiety’ over CPW depredation payments, but commissioners note it’s the law

Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State / / , ,

“Everyone feels anxiety and fear about all this,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis told commissioners as they approved a large payment to two Colorado ranchers in Grand County that lost livestock as a direct result of the wolf reintroduction program.

‘Everyone feels anxiety’ over CPW depredation payments, but commissioners note it’s the law Read More »