DENVER–The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is requesting public comment and information regarding Colorado’s gray wolf importation program. This request comes just months after the federal agency threatened to take over wolf management in Colorado due to ongoing problems.
As previously reported by Complete Colorado, FWS sent an official warning to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) management saying Colorado violated the terms of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by releasing 15 wolves in January 2025 without informing citizens. FWS also criticized CPW’s management of the Copper Creek pack, which has a history of livestock depredation, and which cost Grand County ranchers alone $450,000 in losses.
On April 4, FWS issued an action notice requesting public input on CPW’s implementation of the 10(j) rule, which labels Colorado’s wolf population as non-essential or “experimental,” giving CPW management authority over wolf translocation.
“Over the past few years, many wolf-livestock depredation events have been verified in Colorado, and the total number of verified depredations and associated claims has vastly exceeded the funds currently available under Colorado’s existing livestock compensation scheme,” reads the FSW notice, in part.
According to the original MOA, Colorado agreed to share timely information with stakeholders and the public, communicate with FWS by providing accurate data, and conduct public outreach while implementing strategies to control wolf and livestock conflict.
Kathleen Curry, a former Democrat state representative and family ranch owner in Gunnison, says CPW’s lack of information has hurt Colorado’s rural community,
“I appreciate the requests for information and will be providing input to the FWS regarding the wolf reintroduction program on behalf of our family ranch in Gunnison,” Curry told Complete Colorado. “I don’t think that the information the Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff has been providing to the Service tells the entire story, so this is a great opportunity to make sure the Service knows that livestock producers continue to have significant concerns about the program.”
FWS’s is seeking comment and information specifically on CPW implementation of conflict management and response, stakeholder engagement, the livestock compensation program, the impact of wolves on livestock and land, and recommendations for improvement.
“Once the Service has more factual information regarding ongoing problems like unconfirmed depredations, lack of management of problem wolves, and mitigation measures that are not adequate or effective, it is my hope that the FWS will step in and require improvements before additional wolves are added to the mix,” Curry said.
The deadline for public comment is June 5. Comments can be submitted electronically or by mail.
