The efforts to reintroduce wolves in Colorado, mandated by voters, have encountered a significant obstacle due to a recent policy shift by the Trump administration. This change may compel state wildlife officials to seek alternative sources for wolves ahead of the scheduled releases this winter.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) had established a contract with Canada for wolf sourcing after encountering limited options within the United States. However, a letter from the newly appointed head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) warned that this arrangement would breach a legal agreement between the state agency and the federal government. This communication marks a notable reversal in federal policy regarding the wolf reintroduction since President Trump resumed office, leading several wildlife advocacy groups to label the new stance as politically motivated.
“This is just plain politics and trying to throw sand in the gears of progress,” stated Tom Delehanty, a senior attorney with Earthjustice“s Rocky Mountain Office. Should CPW be unable to utilize Canadian wolves and fail to identify another domestic source in time for the winter releases, it would be seen as a victory for various ranching organizations in Colorado that have been advocating for a pause in the reintroduction program to enhance conflict mitigation strategies.
“That is ultimately our stance—it”s not to end the wolf program, it”s simply to take a breather,” remarked Erin Spaur, executive vice president of the Colorado Cattlemen”s Association.
Prior to this shift, the FWS had engaged in consultations with CPW regarding the previous winter”s wolf release and the recent agreement with the British Columbia provincial government aimed at supplying wolves for the upcoming winter. CPW spokesman Luke Perkins emphasized that the agency has adhered to all relevant state and federal regulations.
In light of the uncertainties, CPW is currently exploring all possible alternatives for this winter”s wolf release. Historically, the agency has faced challenges in securing cooperation from Western U.S. states for the reintroduction program, which was initiated following a 2020 ballot initiative.
The FWS letter, dated October 10, claims Colorado must source wolves from certain areas in the American West where they are no longer protected under the Endangered Species Act, including Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and parts of Oregon and Washington. It references the original agreement that allows CPW to manage wolves in the state, known as a 10(j) rule. However, Delehanty argues that the rule does not restrict sourcing to only these areas.
Moreover, the environmental impact statement accompanying the 10(j) rule indicates that wolves from the Great Lakes region could be considered if wolves from the Western U.S. are unavailable, although it does not mention international sourcing. The state”s wolf management plan does not specifically recognize Canada as a source but does not mandate a defined origin either.
Political dynamics surrounding the reintroduction have intensified, with some Republican politicians and a few Democrats backing ranching communities” opposition to the initiative. Greg Lopez, a former congressman vying for the Republican nomination for Colorado governor in 2026, has actively challenged the reintroduction in correspondence with FWS leadership.
In the past, Colorado officials struggled to identify a Western state willing to provide wolves for the reintroduction. The inaugural release in December 2023 included wolves sourced from Oregon, following a series of rejections from Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Although initial discussions with Washington state were less fruitful, a deal with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation ultimately fell through.
CPW managed to capture 15 wolves from British Columbia, which were released in January. The state”s wolf management plan anticipates releasing between 30 and 50 wolves over a designated period, with wildlife officials indicating that this winter”s release could potentially be the final one. Currently, approximately 21 collared wolves inhabit Colorado, and at least 10 pups were born during the summer in the state”s established packs.
