The Colorado Senate is expected to vote on a bill as soon as tomorrow that could delay wolf reintroduction and restoration in the state by at least six years. Such a delay subverts the will of Colorado voters and is a last-ditch effort by those who are opposed to the return of wolves to the state. This is unacceptable and your call could help stop this bill in its poorly laid tracks.
Call today and urge your state senator to vote “NO” on SB-256! Details about how are listed below.
SB 256 is a very late addition to Colorado’s legislative session and as written prohibits the state from introducing wolves to Colorado until certain steps are met that would finalize a federal management rule known as the “10(j) rule.” If this bill passes, it would delay any wolf reintroduction by six years at a minimum. It is quite likely that the bill would lead to a decade or more until wolves could be reintroduced even if a10(j) rule is finalized by the end of this year when wolf reintroduction should happen.
While bill proponents argue the bill is just meant to ensure that a 10(j) rule – giving the state management authority over wolves that are currently protected as a federally endangered species – is in place, this bill has a far more threatening impact to wolf reintroduction.
This bill is nothing more than an attempt to subvert the will of the voters and delay wolf restoration for as long as possible.
When you reach your senator’s staff, remind them:
- that you are calling to urge a “NO” vote on SB-256. SB-256 subverts the will of the majority of Coloradans who voted “Yes” on Proposition 114.
- the bill is misleading and misguided. The bill sponsors claim SB-256 simply mandates a 10(j) rule prior to the state beginning wolf reintroduction but the bill goes much further than this.
- SB-256 is unacceptable.
- the true intent of this bill is to delay reintroduction for as long as possible by those who would rather keep wolves out of Colorado than learn to live with this native species. This group of people represents a small minority of voters and as an elected official I urge you to stand with Colorado voters who were the majority in approving wolf reintroduction.
- this call is a reminder to vote against any bill that would delay the introduction of wolves. Vote “NO” on SB-256 and defend the will of the voters as well as the groups that have spent countless hours over the past 2.5 years working towards a successful reintroduction by the end of 2023.
Find your senator on the list below and make a call today! You can search here if you need help identifying what district you are in you are in.
| Senator | District | Phone Number |
| Pelton, Byron | 1 | 303-866-6360 |
| Smallwood, Jim | 2 | 303-866-4869 |
| Hinrichsen, Nick | 3 | 303-866-4878 |
| Baisley, Mark | 4 | 303-866-4877 |
| Will, Perry | 5 | 303-866-5292 |
| Simpson, Cleave | 6 | 303-866-4875 |
| Rich, Janice | 7 | 303-866-3077 |
| Roberts, Dylan | 8 | 303-866-4871 |
| Lundeen, Paul | 9 | 303-866-4835 |
| Liston, Larry | 10 | 303-866-2737 |
| Exum, Tony | 11 | 303-866-6364 |
| Gardner, Bob | 12 | 303-866-4880 |
| Priola, Kevin | 13 | 303-866-4855 |
| Ginal, Joann | 14 | 303-866-4841 |
| Marchman, Janice | 15 | 303-866-4853 |
| Kolker, Chris | 16 | 303-866-4883 |
| Jaquez Lewis, Sonya | 17 | 303-866-5291 |
| Fenberg, Steve | 18 | 303-866-4872 |
| Zenzinger, Rachel | 19 | 303-866-4840 |
| Cutter, Lisa | 20 | 303-866-4859 |
| Moreno, Dominick | 21 | 303-866-4857 |
| Danielson, Jessie | 22 | 303-866-4856 |
| Kirkmeyer, Barbara | 23 | 303-866-4876 |
| Mullica, Kyle | 24 | 303-866-4451 |
| Winter, Faith | 25 | 303-866-4863 |
| Bridges, Jeff | 26 | 303-866-4846 |
| Sullivan, Tom | 27 | 303-866-4873 |
| Fields, Rhonda | 28 | 303-866-4879 |
| Buckner, Janet | 29 | 303-866-3432 |
| Van Winkle, Kevin | 30 | 303-866-4881 |
| Hansen, Chris | 31 | 303-866-4861 |
| Rodriguez, Robert | 32 | 303-866-4852 |
| Coleman, James | 33 | 303-866-4864 |
| Gonzales, Julie | 34 | 303-866-4862 |
| Pelton, Rod | 35 | 303-866-4884 |
