CPW says they'll recommend denying petition request for delaying next introduction of wolves

December 21, 2024 Shannon Lukens

By Shannon Lukens.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has sent a press release titled, “CPW’s comprehensive efforts throughout the first year of wolf restoration provide a solid foundation for future. Efforts include Conflict Minimization Program improvements, increased staffing, strong partnerships and clear guidelines for producers.”

CPW Director Jeff Davis says they have been listening and working with stakeholders all year, as “evident in our improved Conflict Minimization Program…. “Davis also mentioned new staff to work with producers, strengthened partnerships because of the Ad Hoc Working Group and Colorado Department of Agriculture, and new guidelines for producers when it comes to “chronic depredation and lethal management considerations.”

The press release continuously mentions the next Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting Jan. 8.

It mentions the petition for rulemaking submitted by Middle Park Stockgrowers, and 25 other groups in the state, as well as Colorado Counties, Inc. The press release says “The recommendation is to deny the petition requesting rulemaking,” because it says the conditions have already been addressed and will be covered in detail at the wolf update at the Jan. 8 meeting.

Sept. 30, 2024 — Colorado Ag Organizations petition CPW Commission before further wolf releases happen

We spoke with the president of Middle Park Stockgrowers, Tim Ritschard, Saturday afternoon, about the impending denial of the petition.

“I mean, it doesn’t surprise. I mean, we kind of went into it thinking they were going to deny us anyway. We saw what happened in Middle Park without having these programs in place. You hear that they’ve been working on it. But to my knowledge, there is nothing really in place. There’s grants but how many range riders do we actually have out there. How many more Site Vulnerability Assessments need to be complete, because I’ve heard there’s few. So that’s where we’re at. It doesn’t surprise us but we hope they can get these programs in place before we have wolves on the ground and I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Those issues are:

Development of a state range rider program
Development of rapid response team to address conflicts
Non-lethal conflict techniques
Site assessment program
A definition of chronic depredation
Collaboration with ranchers on carcass removal
Development of a communication plan and consultation with local officials, communities and producers

Regarding chronic depredation and lethal management, the release says that information will be released to the public on Monday, Dec. 23.

Press Release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife; 10:01 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024.

CPW’s comprehensive efforts throughout the first year of wolf restoration provide a solid foundation for future

Efforts include Conflict Minimization Program improvements, increased staffing, strong partnerships and clear guidelines for producers

NEWS RELEASE
12/21/24

DENVER — CPW has been focused on creating a significantly expanded management program throughout the first year of voter-approved wolf restoration in Colorado. The efforts support the implementation of the Colorado Gray Wolf Restoration and Management Plan as the agency prepares for the second capture and release season.

“We’ve been listening to and working with all stakeholders in this historic restoration effort all year,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis. “The results are evident in our improved Conflict Minimization Program, the addition of new staff to work alongside producers, strengthened partnerships such as the Ad Hoc Working Group and Colorado Department of Agriculture, and now clear guidelines for producers as it relates to chronic depredation and lethal management considerations.”

At the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission (PWC) meeting on Jan. 8, the PWC will discuss the final materials and documentation detailing how the agency is addressing the requests in the petition for rulemaking submitted to the PWC on September 27 by 26 ranching and farming organizations and how the agency has satisfied the requests for tools and resources from the first year of gray wolf restoration. These actions are responsive to the requests and recommendations of impacted people and industries throughout the year and demonstrate important collaboration with landowners and producers.

The staff recommendation regarding the petition was included as a formal letter from the CPW Director to Parks and Wildlife (PWC) Commissioners in today’s mailing ahead of the January 8 meeting. A notification of the recommendation was also distributed to petitioners. The recommendation is to deny the petition requesting rulemaking. Rulemaking in this case is unnecessary because the seven conditions included have already been addressed. These topics will be covered in detail during the wolf update at the PWC meeting on January 8 and include:

Development of a state range rider program
Development of rapid response team to address conflicts
Non-lethal conflict techniques
Site assessment program
A definition of chronic depredation
Collaboration with ranchers on carcass removal
Development of a communication plan and consultation with local officials, communities and producers

The reference materials on the definition of chronic depredation and associated lethal management considerations will be available to the public on Monday, December 23 in the meeting materials for the January 8 meeting on the commission webpage. A copy of the letter and the meeting agenda will also be available in that location.

In the formal letter submitted to the PWC today, CPW Director Jeff Davis reiterates the biological importance of reintroducing additional wolves to the state and provides further details related to how the agency and its partners have already been addressing the conditions in the petition. The results of these efforts were shared in a CPW press release on December 9.
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Steamboat Radio News Past Coverage of wolves in Colorado

Dec. 21, 2024 — CPW says they’ll recommend denying petition request for delaying next introduction of wolves
Dec. 9, 2024 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife has started the operation to bring 15 gray wolves to Colorado from British Columbia
Nov. 14, 2024 — Wolf Update — November 14, 2024
Nov. 3, 2024 — A collared wolf has crossed I-70 to the south, for the first time
Nov. 3, 2024 — CPW responds to requests from Club 20 about Wolf Reintroduction
Oct. 15, 2024 — Livestock producers have access to livestock protection dogs for free from USDA
Oct. 11, 2024 — Fifth wolf pup has not been captured
Oct. 8, 2024 — CPW Commission gets another letter asking to pause wolf reintroduction
Oct. 6, 2024 — CPW Commission hears wolf updates at meeting
Sept. 30, 2024 –– A 5th wolf pup is spotted in Grand County and will be captured by CPW
Sept. 30, 2024 — Colorado Ag Organizations petition CPW Commission before further wolf releases happen
Sept. 26, 2024 — No producers show for first Non-Lethal Wolf Conflict Reduction Training Meeting
Sept. 23, 2024 — CPW confirms a cow and a calf killed by wolves in Grand County
Sept. 16, 2024 — The Wolf Conflict Reduction program is hiring two field specialists
Sept. 14, 2024 — The next set of wolves coming to Colorado will be from Canada
Sept. 13, 2024 — Middle Park Stockgrowers ask CPW not to release any more wolves there
Sept. 12, 2024 — Another wolf is dead in Grand County
Sept. 10, 2024 — Grand County ranchers are reporting more wolf kills
Sept. 9, 2024 — The Copper Creek Wolf Pack has been captured and CPW says the adult male was unhealthy and has died
Sept. 9, 2024 –– Ranchers with the most wolf depredations ask U.S. Fish & Wildlife to take over wolf management
Aug. 27, 2024 — The Copper Creek Wolf Pack is getting rounded up and relocated
Aug. 23, 2024 — CPW confirms the next wolves introduced will again be in Northern Colorado
July 31, 2024 — Eight more sheep confirmed killed by wolves in Grand County
July 31, 2024 — Colville Tribe says they won’t send wolves to Colorado now
July 29, 2024 — Two more sheep die from wolves in Grand County
June 24, 2024 — CPW REPORTS LESS WOLF ACTIVITY IN ROUTT AND NONE IN MOFFAT
June 20, 2024 — WOLF PUP CONFIRMED IN GRAND COUNTY
June 19, 2024 — CPW CONFIRMS SOUTH ROUTT WOLF KILL
June 17, 2024 — PRODUCER REPORTS SUSPECTED WOLF KILL IN SOUTH ROUTT COUNTY
June 16, 2024 — CPW DIRECTOR JEFF DAVIS ANSWERS QUESTIONS AT JACKSON COUNTY GATHERING
June 13, 2024 — CPW TO FORM WORKING GROUP REGARDING WOLF RESTORATION
June 12, 2024 — NORTH PARK PRODUCER WHO LOSES CALF SPEAKS OUT
June 10, 2024 — CPW CONFIRMS ANOTHER WOLF DEPREDATION IN JACKSON COUNTY THIS WEEKEND
June 5, 2024 — Wolf Video posted from Grand County
May 26, 2024 — DON GITTLESON SAYS ANOTHER CALF HAS BEEN KILLED BY WOLVES ON HIS RANCH
May 15, 2024 — HERE’S THE LATEST LETTER TO MIDDLE PARK STOCKGROWERS FROM CPW DIRECTOR DAVIS
May 14, 2024 — Suspected mountain lion kills the collared wolf
May 6, 2024 — MIDDLE PARK STOCKGROWERS SEND EIGHT-PAGE LETTER TO CPW
April 30, 2024 — GRAND COUNTY RANCHERS TO GET HELP WITH PROTECTING THEIR LIVESTOCK
April 30, 2024 — NORTH PARK STOCKGROWERS SEND ANOTHER LETTER TO CPW AND GOV. POLIS
April 28, 2024 —ANOTHER WOLF KILL IN GRAND COUNTY SUNDAY
April 24-2024 — COLLARED GRAY WOLF ACTIVITY MAP RELEASED FOR APRIL
April 23, 2024 — A WOLF HAS DIED, AND MIDDLE PARK STOCKGROWERS HEAR FROM CPW
April 22, 2024 — MULTIPLE LETTERS SENT TODAY TO GOVERNOR POLIS AND CPW ASKING FOR ACTION ON WOLVES
April 18, 2024 — FOUR MORE HEAD OF LIVESTOCK KILLED BY WOLVES IN GRAND COUNTY
April 9, 2024 — AG PRODUCERS MEET WITH CPW OFFICIALS IN KREMMLING ABOUT WOLVES
April 8, 2024 — ANOTHER CALF KILLED BY A WOLF OR WOLVES IN JACKSON COUNTY
April 3, 2024 — A WOLF OR WOLVES HAVE KILLED A NEWBORN CALF IN GRAND COUNTY
April 3, 2024 — Denver 7 Calf killed in first confirmed report of gray wolf depredation since wolves were released in December
Feb. 29, 2024 — COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE OFFICIALS COME TO STEAMBOAT SPRINGS TO TALK WOLVES
Jan. 30, 2024 — CPW SENDS UPDATE ON WOLF SIGHTINGS SINCE 2004, AND MORE ON THE MAP
Jan. 24, 2024 — ELECTED OFFICIALS GRILL DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CPW AT HEARING WEDNESDAY
Jan. 22, 2024 — CPW GETS HARSH LETTER DEMANDING ANSWERS FROM ROBERTS AND MCCLUSKIE
Jan. 19, 2024 — COLORADO’S NEXT WOLVES TO BE REINTRODUCED WILL BE FROM TRIBAL LANDS IN WASHINGTON
Jan. 12, 2024 — CPW CONFIRMS WOLVES WERE IN SOUTH ROUTT BUT AREN’T (YET) IN MOFFAT
Dec. 22, 2023 — FIVE MORE WOLVES ARE RELEASED BY COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE
Dec. 22, 2023 — CPW DENIES GITTLESON’S REQUEST TO IMPLEMENT 10(J) RULE ON JACKSON COUNTY WOLVES
Dec. 21, 2023 — THREE OF THE FIVE WOLVES RELEASED IN COLORADO WERE IN PACKS THAT KILLED OR INJURED LIVESTOCK IN OREGON
Dec. 19, 2023 — LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS RECEIVE WOLF UPDATE FROM CPW IN CRAIG MONDAY
Dec. 13, 2023 — GITTLESON SAYS ANOTHER CALF WAS ATTACKED BY A WOLF TODAY
Dec. 11, 2023 — COMPLAINT FILED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT TO STOP WOLF REINTRODUCTION IN COLORADO
Dec. 4, 2023 — KEEP YOUR PETS CLOSE AND CARRY A BIG STICK – CPW HAS ADVICE FOR LIVING WITH WOLVES
Nov. 19, 2023 — THREE LAMBS KILLED BY A WOLF IN JACKSON COUNTY, SAYS RANCHER
Nov. 17, 2023 – CPW AND CDA ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO WORK TOGETHER ON WOLF REINTRODUCTION
Nov. 7, 2023 – U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SETS DATE FOR 10J RULE FOR WOLVES
Oct. 6, 2023 – COLORADO WILL RECEIVE WOLVES FROM OREGON
May 16, 2023 – POLIS VETOES 10J RULE WOLF BILL
May 3, 2023 – CPW COMMISSION APPROVES FINAL WOLF RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
May 2, 2023 – MANAGEMENT OF GRAY WOLVES REINTRODUCTION BILL PASSES IN STATE HOUSE
May 2, 2023 –CPW MEETS THIS WEEK FOR FINAL WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN
April 27, 2023 – CPW CONFIRMS WOLF SIGHTING EAST OF KREMMLING
April 8, 2023 – CPW WOLF COMMISSION MEETS IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
April 3, 2023 – CPW TO PRESENT FINAL DRAFT WOLF RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
March 28, 2023 – THE SOUTHERN UTE TRIBE ASKS THAT CPW RELEASES WOLVES ALONG I-70 CORRIDOR
March 15, 2023 – TWO DOGS DIE FROM WOLVES IN JACKSON COUNTY THIS WEEK
March 3, 2023 –COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION RELEASES WOLF REINTRODUCTION MEETING RECAP
Feb. 21, 2023 —WOLF 2101 RECAPTURED AND RECOLLARED IN JACKSON COUNTY
Feb. 21, 2023 —10J RULE MEETINGS WITH REGARDS TO WOLVES SCHEDULED FOR NW COLORADO BY US FISH AND WILDLIFE
Jan. 17, 2023 —STATE LEGISLATORS HEAR MORE ON WOLF REINTRODUCTION AT JOINT COMMITTEE HEARING
Dec. 13, 2022 —MORE WOLVES VISIT GITTLESON PROPERTY IN JACKSON COUNTY THIS WEEK
Dec. 12, 2022 —NORTH PARK RANCHERS MEET WITH CPW REGARDING WOLF REINTRODUCTION PLAN
Dec. 10, 2022 —CPW RELEASES DRAFT COLORADO WOLF RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
Nov. 19, 2022 —ANOTHER WOLF ATTACK REPORTED IN JACKSON COUNTY
Oct. 9, 2022 —WOLVES ATTACK CALVES IN RIO BLANCO AND JACKSON COUNTIES
July 14, 2022 —CPW UPDATES THE WOLF PACK IN JACKSON COUNTY
June 20, 2022 ––WOLF MANAGEMENT DISCUSSED AT MEETING IN WALDEN
June 15, 2022 —WOLVES IN NORTH PARK ARE SUBJECT AT MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 20
May 30, 2022 —THE GITTLESON RANCH LOSES ANOTHER CALF TO WOLVES, THEY SAY
May 5, 2022 —AT LEAST TWO MORE CALVES KILLED BY WOLVES ON GITTLESON RANCH
May 10, 2022 ––THIRD CALF DIES ON JACKSON COUNTY RANCH; CPW DOES NECROPSY
April 11, 2022 —A NEW LITTER OF WOLF PUPS IS EXPECTED IN JACKSON COUNTY
March 17, 2022 —WOLVES ATTACK ANOTHER DOMESTIC COW IN JACKSON COUNTY
Feb. 10, 2022 – MONTANA STOCKGROWERS VOICE SUPPORT FOR COLORADO RANCHERS OVER THE WOLVES
Feb. 9, 2022 – WOLF MANAGEMENT DISCUSSED BY LOCAL RANCHERS AND OFFICIALS AT FORUM IN STEAMBOAT
Jan. 22, 2022 – WOLF MITIGATION OPTIONS
Jan. 19, 2022 – ANOTHER COW KILLED OVERNIGHT IN NORTH PARK BY WOLVES
Jan. 18, 2022 – TWO MORE COWS ATTACKED BY WOLVES IN JACKSON COUNTY TUESDAY
Jan. 12, 2022 – CPW ALLOWS WOLVES TO BE HAZED IN EMERGENCY DECLARATION
Jan. 10, 2022 – A WOLF PACK KILL IS REPORTED IN JACKSON COUNTY OVER THE WEEKEND
June 9, 2021 – WOLF DEN WITH PUPS CONFIRMED IN NW COLORADO