Lauren Dobson, of the Unified Wolf Coaltion, updated the Forum on the wolf reintroduction issue and how badly it’s going for livestock producers. Yes, the wolf reintroduction was a ballot issue, passed by voters, albeit mostly on the Front Range. Now, the Western Slope is dealing with the result of that decision.
Dobson said one of the biggest issues, in her opinion, is that there’s been political interference, from the current state government administration, led by Gov. Polis. While the ballot question passed in 2020, she said the whole thing has been rushed.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife, she said, did extensive research, talked to other states and those at the federal level, and worked with the wolf advocates. The reintroduction process should’ve taken more like five years — not two or three.
Rushing it, Dobson said, has put a strain on landowners and CPW staff, resulting in mistrust and broken promises. According to her, the programs to measure success metrics have never been defined.
“We know you can’t run such a complex reintroduction program without implementing well-built-out and well-analysed programs,” she said.
That includes mitigation tools, range riders, communication — the full gamut, including carcass disposal protocols.
Now ranchers are caught in the middle of red tape and can’t even dispose of carcasses. The state’s Department of Public Health and Environment said they can’t take them. CPW points landowners in another direction. Dobson said producers don’t have time to play political games and just need support.
Sadly, she said the wolf issue has damaged what used to be a good relationship.
“This one species seems to have completely upended and changed relationships with CPW,” Dobson said, “and (landowners) are frustrated. They don’t feel like there’s trust.”
Producers are invited to countless meetings, but leave feeling unheard and not part of the conversation. Recently, audio was leaked from a meeting, wherein CPW staff said they knew a certain case was wolf depredation, but staff were directed not to process it as such.
While the agency, CPW, is upset about the recording and said it breaks trust, landowners want to know about trust on their behalf.
Dobson said the original budget for the wolf issue was approximately $1 million. She figures $8 million has now been spent.
So far the state has only removed one wolf lethally, but they’re looking at another in Pitkin County, relocated there because of previous depredation, though it’s behavior is continuing. Ranchers in Pitkin County have asked for permission for lethal take; CPW said they’d handle it. APHIS, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, is apparently working on it.
Meanwhile, more than 60 head of livestock have been injured or killed by wolves in Colorado, according to online data with the state, though Dobson said there are more. It’s just that some producers can’t deal with the headache of the state’s protocols and they don’t want media attention.
Dobson said CPW needs landowners: for partnerships, research, habitat protection. She said it’s disappointing to see lack of cooperation from the agency.
“There’s been a strong partnership, but the wolf has changed it all,” she said.
Unified Wolf Coaltion is made up of county representatives, landowners, those from hunting and fishing organizations, outfitters and more.
