Current work in wildlife, rivers, public lands, and climate

DENVER – In response to legislation that would delay wolf reintroductions to Colorado for at least six years, wildlife advocates and conservationists have sent a letter to members of the Colorado Senate outlining major concerns with Senate Bill 23-256. Experts in wildlife policy and the Endangered Species Act explain that the legislation, if signed into law, would delay wolf reintroductions until at least 2029 and could also invite frivolous lawsuits as further delay tactics.  This would nullify the will of the Colorado voters who voted to have wolves reintroduced to the state by the end of 2023.

“If this bill became law, wolf restoration – which Coloradans voted for – wouldn’t happen until 2029 at the very earliest,” said Lindsay Larris, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians. “Federal 10(j) management rules have a statute of limitations of 6 years. So a lawsuit could be filed in 2029, which would delay wolf reintroductions to almost a decade from now.”

Currently, in collaboration with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working to write a 10(j) management rule for gray wolves in Colorado which would allow significant management of the federally listed species by the state agency. The rule is scheduled to be finalized prior to wolf releases at the end of the year.

“SB23-256  attempts to postpone, perhaps indefinitely, the reintroduction of gray wolves to Colorado and in so doing not only deny the vote of Coloradans –- but also undermine, delay and inhibit an important tool – gray wolves – for mitigating the causes and consequences of climate warming in Colorado,” said Delia Malone, wildlife chair of the Colorado Sierra Club.

“As a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Group, I’m disappointed that those opposed to wolf restoration would stoop to this tactic to delay wolf restoration,” said Gary Skiba, wildlife program manager for San Juan Citizens Alliance. “We worked hard to address the concerns of livestock producers, hunters, wolf advocates, and outfitters, and to have that effort undercut by groups not involved in the process is discouraging.”

Last week, SB23-256 passed the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee with two of the bill’s co-sponsors voting against the bill. It is slated to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee next.