Wolves are one step closer to being introduced into Colorado.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission met at the end of February to review the Draft Wolf Restoration and Management Plan and take comments on the wolf introduction process. In April, CPW will present the final draft plan and accept one more round of public comments. By early May, the commissioners will vote on a final plan, and we can expect to see wolves brought into the state by the end of the year.
CPW held five meetings throughout the state in January and February, hearing from more than 230 people in person and accepting about 4,000 comments.
“We are so grateful for the comments from so many people since the public involvement process began back in April of 2021, and to those who have commented on the draft plan itself over the past two months,” said CPW Acting Director Heather Disney Dugan. “Your comments will make for a better, more informed plan.”
Below is an overview of the consensus statements from the commission at its recent meeting relating to livestock and herding animal depredations.
• Raising the cap on livestock and guard and herding animal depredation compensation to $15,000 per animal.
• Excluding veterinary expenses from the compensation cap for animals up to $15,000 or the fair market value of the livestock at issue, whichever is lower. Up to $30,000 could be compensated per animal for death and related veterinary expenses.
• Requiring claimants pursuing an itemized claim to provide documents or self-certify the use of vaccines and pregnancy checks in lieu of producing “records for the current year that demonstrate vaccination status.”
• Including a two-tiered compensation ratio (1.25:1 or 1:1) for missing yearlings depending on whether the claimant uses conflict minimization practices.
• If conflict minimization practices are implemented, up to seven missing calves and sheep may be claimed for each confirmed cattle or sheep depredation (a 7:1 ratio).
The commission noted the following: “At some point in the future, the long-term management of wolves in Colorado may need to be considered further than what is outlined in this plan. These discussions would only occur after wolves have successfully been recovered and removed from the state threatened and endangered list.”
The commission continued that the long-term management of wolves should be impact- and science-based, and consider biological and social science in addition to economic and legal considerations.
The plan will require a count of 150 wolves for two successive years or 200 wolves at any time to transition the wolves from threatened status to nongame status. Division staff will be required to conduct a population viability analysis as a prerequisite to wolves changing from threatened to nongame status.
A formal review on the plan’s progress will be scheduled for five years after the wolves’ initial release.
The final plan will be adopted on April 6 in Steamboat Springs, CO, and May 3-4 in Glenwood Springs, CO.
Section 10(j) rule
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is proposing to establish an experimental population of gray wolves in the state under Section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. This would increase management flexibility for the wolves brought into the state.
“A 10(j) rule would help CPW manage the potential impacts of gray wolf reintroduction to stakeholders while ensuring that the reintroduction and management of wolves is likely to be successful and contribute to conservation of the species,” USFWS said in a flyer.
The rule would allow for reintroduced wolves to be hazed, removed or relocated by CPW, Tribes or designated agents for domestic depredations. Under special conditions and reporting requirements, the public could harass or remove wolves attacking livestock or dogs.
The agency noted that while wolves could still be reintroduced into Colorado without the 10(j) designation, “The state would be limited in its options to manage the federally endangered species appropriately.”
A comment period on the proposed rule is open through April 18. Comments can be submitted at regulations.gov by searching for Docket ID FWS-R6-ES-2022-0100. — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
