The task approved by Colorado voters to repair a wolf organization could begin as soon as Monday, Dec. 18, opening a new crack in the saga of a debatable predator wiped out of the state more than 80 years ago.
The updated reintroduction schedule was revealed Thursday during a court hearing on a last-minute legal challenge to the wolf’s reintroduction effort.
Earlier this week, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and the Gunnison County Cattlemen’s Association sued federal and state wildlife officials. The groups need a temporary restraining order against Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which is now taking definitive action to capture up to 10 wolves in eastern Oregon. The judge will have to make a decision on whether to delay the task and determine whether a federal settlement requires a full environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.
During the hearing, U.S. District Court of Colorado Judge Regina Rodriguez questioned state attorneys about the potential effect of issuing a five-day restraining order.
In response, Lisa Reynolds, an attorney representing Colorado Parks and Wildlife in the lawsuit, said state officials are on track to tranquilize and capture wolves in Oregon starting Sunday.
The National Wildlife Agency has an agreement with LightHawk, a nonprofit conservation organization based in Colorado, to ship the animals from Oregon to the West Slope. If the capture operation is successful, Reynolds said it’s possible that as many as five wolves will be in Colorado and in condition to be released on Monday.
Reynolds further noted Oregon’s wolves — unlike wolves in Colorado — aren’t protected as a federally endangered species. That means if the judge issues a restraining order, Colorado wildlife agents could continue their capture operation and then hold wolves in pens in Del Norte, Colo. while she considers the lawsuit from livestock operators.
Although a delay would strain the wolves, Reynolds said the state could simply suspend the planned release if the court orders it. Judge Rodriguez said she plans to rule on a possible temporary restraining order on Friday.
Colorado officials are now struggling to meet a year-end reintroduction deadline narrowly approved by voters in 2020, and a referendum marks the first time a plan to fix an endangered species has been sanctioned. through a polling station.
Since then, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has spent months gathering public and expert feedback to finalize a new wolf control plan. The final results document calls for the release of 30 to 50 wolves over the next 3 to five years to repair self-control. sustain the population.
The state has also worked with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U. S. Department of Homeland Security has filed a permit to manage wolves as an experimental population under the U. S. Endangered Species Act. U. S. The permit, approved through the federal firm in November, allows state officials and ranchers to kill or frighten. Scare away wolves that threaten livestock.
Colorado also struck a cooperative agreement with Oregon last October to capture up to 10 wolves this winter. It is now clear wildlife officers will try to carry out the plan starting this weekend.
One of the last remaining questions is precisely where the state plans to release the first batch of animals.
In its wolf management plan, Colorado Parks and Wildlife decided on the general domain along the Interstate 70 corridor between Vail and Glenwood Springs, but did not propose a more express location beyond clarifying whether reintroductions would occur in public or personal lands.
Travis Duncan, a spokesman for the National Wildlife Agency, said it does not disclose an express location for “the protection and safety of gray wolf release operations. “
He also declined to answer whether the company had notified citizens and ranchers living near any potential release sites.
“The company has stockpiled and will continue to purchase products to minimize clashes at key locations,” Duncan said. “These pieces will be loaned on a case-by-case basis, depending on the wolves’ proximity to livestock, frequency of interactions, history of predation, and applicant involvement. “
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