Making an exception
Feds approve Colorado's plan to reintroduce wolves – and kill them in some cases

The federal government on Tuesday granted Colorado the authority to manage and kill wolves in specific circumstances, clearing a path for the state to meet a voter-approved deadline to release the predators by the end of the year. 

The U.S. Endangered Species Act forbids anyone from harming or harassing wolves in Colorado. Under the final decision, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved a special exception – known as a 10(j) permit – designating the predators as an “experimental population.”

That gives Colorado flexibility in its wolf reintroduction plan, allowing for proactive management of wolves that threaten livestock or working animals.

Acceptable methods include nonlethal hazing tools like sirens or sound cannons. If wolves are a consistent threat, state wildlife officers can approve lethal control on a case-by-case basis. Ranchers would also be allowed to kill wolves caught in the act of preying on livestock. 

The federal rule does provide clarity on one point: While people can remove wolves attacking working dogs, it remains illegal to kill a wolf attacking a pet. 

Gaining that latitude under federal law has been a top priority for rural state lawmakers. Earlier this year, a bipartisan bill would have only allowed reintroduction if the federal government granted the expected 10(j) permit. Gov. Jared Polis vetoed the proposal, saying it would add legal complications and put the state at risk of missing its Dec. 31 deadline. 

A bill sponsor, Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Steamboat Springs, said he’s grateful there weren’t delays to approving the permit. At the same time, he fears environmental groups could sue to block it, which could result in an injunction from a federal court putting the permit on hold. 

Lindsay Larris serves as the wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians, a group that’s previously criticized Colorado's plans to allow lethal control of wolves. She said the organization doesn’t plan to file a lawsuit before the reintroduction process begins. 

“We’re going to see what takes place on the landscape over the next year,” Larris said. 

Barring legal complications, Colorado Parks and Wildlife appears ready to meet the end-of-year target. The new permit is set to take effect Dec. 8, opening a 24-day window for the state to release wolves on the Western Slope. 

The department has also secured an initial supply population of the predators. In October, Colorado struck a one-year agreement with Oregon to capture up to 10 gray wolves for its reintroduction project.

The largest remaining mystery remains the release location for the first batch of wolves. State wildlife officers say the predators will be let loose in a general region around Vail, Aspen and Gunnison, but haven’t offered anything more specific. 

Colorado has committed to meeting with local landowners before any wolves are released. 

For more from Colorado Public Radio, go to: www.cpr.org.