In a letter to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) dated Oct. 10, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Director Brian Nesvik said the state agency may not capture gray wolves for release in Colorado from outside specified areas, which does not include Canada.
Nesvik said the agreement between CPW and USFWS allowed for wolves to be captured from Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, the eastern third of Oregon, the eastern third of Washington and north-central Utah.
“We have reason to believe that CPW may be seeking to capture, transport, and/or release one or more wolves from outside of the specified (Northern Rocky Mountain) Areas outlined in the 10(j) rule,” he said. “To the extent that these reports are true, such actions are violative of the 10(j) rule.” Nesvik continued that if CPW is currently engaged in such activities, the agency must cease and desist any and all efforts.
In January, CPW captured 15 wolves from Canada, releasing them in Eagle and Pitkin counties, and planned to gather more wolves from British Columbia this winter.
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