Colorado releases first 5 wolves in reintroduction plan approved by voters to chagrin of ranchers
GRAND COUNTY, Colo. — Conservation officials released five gray wolves into a remote forest in Colorado's Rocky Mountains on Monday to kick off a voter-approved reintroduction program that was embraced in the state's largely Democratic urban corridor but fiercely opposed in conservative rural areas where ranchers worry about attacks on livestock.
The wolves were released from crates at a Grand County location that government officials kept secret to protect the predators.
It marked the beginning of the most ambitious reintroduction of wolves into the U.S. in nearly three decades and a sharp departure from aggressive efforts by Republican-led states to cull wolf packs. A judge had rejected a request from the state livestock industry for a temporary postponement of the release on Friday evening.
About 45 people watched as the first two wolves — 1-year-old male and female siblings with gray fur mixed with black and brown spots — were released. The male darted onto the golden grass, ran partly sideways to keep an eye on everyone behind him, then turned left into the trees.
The crowd watched in silence, some hugging each other and low murmurs arose.
When the bolt on the second box turned, the wolf didn't flinch. Everyone waited as Governor Jared Polis peeked into the cage.
After about 30 seconds, those around the crates stepped back, giving the wolf space. The female slowly climbed up into the box and then jumped onto a snow-covered grassy area on the dirt road.
When she reached the tree line, she stopped, turned and looked at her silent audience for a moment, then disappeared into an aspen grove, with withered branches.
The other three wolves released were another pair of 1-year-old male and female siblings, as well as a 2-year-old male. The wolves were all captured in Oregon on Sunday.
As the last coffin opened, the 2-year-old male wearing a black coat immediately darted out, made a sharp right turn past the spectators and dashed into the trees. He didn't look back once.
When it was all over, there was a small applause.
Officials in Colorado expect to release 30 to 50 wolves within the next five years, hoping the program will fill one of the last remaining major gaps in the western U.S. for the species. Gray wolves historically ranged from northern Canada to the desert southwest.
The planned release of Colorado's carnivores, voted for in 2020, has sharpened the divide between rural and urban residents. City and suburban residents largely voted in favor of reintroducing the apex predators to rural areas, where prey can include livestock that boost the local economy and big game such as elk, which are prized by hunters.
The reintroduction, beginning with the release of up to 10 wolves in the coming months, emerged as a political wedge issue when GOP-dominated Wyoming, Idaho and Montana refused to share their wolves for the effort. Colorado officials eventually turned to another Democratic state — Oregon — to secure wolves.
Excited wildlife advocates have started a wolf-naming contest, but ranchers in the Rocky Mountains, where the release will take place, are worried. They've seen a glimpse of what the future could bring as a handful of wolves that roamed from Wyoming over the past two years killed livestock.
The fear is that such attacks will worsen, adding to a wave of perceived attacks on western Colorado's rural communities as the state's liberal leaders embrace clean energy and tourism, destroying economic mainstays such as fossil fuel extraction and agriculture are overshadowed.
To allay fears in the livestock industry, farmers who lose or herd livestock and guard animals from wolf attacks will receive fair market value, up to $15,000 per animal.
Hunting groups have also raised concerns that wolves will reduce the herds of elk and other big game animals that the predators eat.
Meanwhile, Colorado residents who supported the reintroduction will have to get used to wildlife officers killing wolves that prey on livestock.
Some wolves have already been killed crossing from Colorado into Wyoming, which has a “predatory” wolf zone covering most of the state where they can be shot on the spot.