Wolf introduction in Colorado could be delayed thanks to a lawsuit filed by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association charging their concerns were never addressed as required by federal statute.
“We believe that much of our input, and that of many others across Western Colorado, was diminished by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission,” said Andy Spann, a 5th generation Gunnison rancher and president of the stock growers association.
“We regret that a course of litigation on this and other issues seems to be the only recourse left to have these concerns legitimately addressed,” Spann said.
The lawsuit was filed Monday in federal district court asking for delay of the Dec. 31 reintroduction that was mandated in a 2020 election.
PeakNation™ will recall the wolf reintroduction measure passed with 51% of support from those who bothered to vote.
But that percentage translated to only 1.6 million of Colorado’s 5.8 million residents, or less than 38% of all Coloradans. That’s not exactly what we would call a mandate of the people. But we digress.
The cattlemen and stock growers argue the environmental consequence of bringing gray wolves back into the state poses a risk to livestock, wildlife, and will have “economic repercussions for the agriculture sector should the introduction proceed without the proper safeguards and mitigation strategies.”
Both groups say reintroduction should be delayed until the environmental impact reviews required by law are completed.
Jeff Hurd, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in the GOP primary for the 3rd Congressional District race, has already weighed in siding with the cattlemen.
I support this Colorado Cattlemen’s Association lawsuit, and also appreciate what @USFWS and @COParksWildlife Colorado Parks and Wildlife have done on 10(j). #co03 #copolitics #cogop https://t.co/mtCJHSdCco
— Jeff Hurd (@jeff4colorado) December 12, 2023
We’re adding a permanent delay of wolf reintroduction to our wish list to Santa as well.