The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), in partnership with the Gunnison County Stock Growers Association (GCSA), filed a lawsuit on December 11, 2023, against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to delay gray wolf reintroduction in Colorado. The lawsuit comes just weeks before the December 31 deadline to begin the reintroduction of 30 to 50 wolves over the next 3 to 5 years, as established by Proposition 114 in February 2020.
A press release by the CCS and GCSA — representing the interests of farmers and ranchers in Colorado — states that the impacts of wolf reintroduction “need to be properly reviewed to avoid unintended negative consequences to the natural environment, wildlife, and people of the impacted communities.” They claim the CPW and FWS did not sufficiently resolve their “concerns and looming conflicts during the public process.”
Although the agricultural organizations have “opposed wolf introduction since it was a proposed ballot initiative,” they’ve collaborated with the FWS and CPW following the passing of Proposition 114, fighting to secure safer outcomes for Colorado ranchers.
In mid-September of this year, the groups achieved a primary objective: securing a designation for reintroduced wolves under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. This classification deems the reintroduction as ‘experimental’ and ‘nonessential,’ allowing for ‘management flexibility,’ including the authority to kill wolves that prey on livestock.
Announcing the 10(j) designation in a September 15 press release, the FWS states, “This management flexibility can help ensure co-existence between wolves and affected landowners contributing to the conservation of the species while reducing the potential impacts of reintroduction to stakeholders.”
Despite FWS adopting this protective measure, the organizations believe that their input in the reintroduction process “was diminished by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission.” They are requesting further discussion regarding “the proper safeguards and mitigations strategies” they believe necessary to protect livestock and the economic stability of ranchers.
“We regard this path of litigation not out of a desire for conflict, but rather as a testament to our unwavering commitment to supporting Colorado’s agriculture community and producers on the western slope,” says Robert Farnam, President of the CCA.
As of the time of writing on December 12, there are no indications of when legal proceedings will begin or how this will affect the December 31 reintroduction deadline.
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