Northwest Colorado News for Tuesday, July 1, 2025

June 30, 2025 Shannon Lukens

By Shannon Lukens.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is in conversation with British Columbia to get new wolves to bring to Colorado this winter. That’s according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis at today’s Colorado Agriculture Review Committee at the state capitol.

“We’re in conversations with British Columbia to extend the agreement from last year. We believe that those animals have been pretty good performers on our landscape to date, and again, we get into how the plan says we’re gonna relocate 30 to 50 in a three- to five-year window. That’s really important for just a base foundation population, but more important for genetic diversity, and so we would not want to, like, pull up short of that genetic diversity down the road.”

Director Davis also presented that over $3M has been spent on the program so far. Senator Dylan Roberts of the 8^th district pointed out that that is $2.2 million over budget which means wolves are being prioritized over classrooms and roads.

“This seems out of control. And that’s just with ten wolves introduced the first year and 15 reintroduced with illusions that we’re going to go up to Canada and get 15 more wolves. And they’re going to have pups and this is going to continue, so $3 million is going to be $10 million in a couple years. It seems completely out of control, especially because we’re cutting from other things. I’m very concerned.”

Here’s Garfield County Commissioner Perry Will, who is also a former State Representative and State Senator, also expressed his frustration.

“Promises broken. Total program failure and cruelty to the wolves.”

Tom Harrington has had recent livestock losses in Pitkin County. He is the most immediate past president of Colorado Cattlemen’s Association.

“We don’t raise them to be compensated when a predator eats them. That’s not why we do this. They’re our livelihood. They’re our lives. That’s what I’ve chosen to do. We’re being ignored by decisions being put forth.”

Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee LINK

More on the Story — CPW officials discuss wolves at with Colorado State Legislators at State Capitol

Be aware of a new hack and scam that has been hitting some local Steamboat Springs businesses. Carrie Wettlaufer owns Element Print and Design.

“Our computers and email were infiltrated. Our contact lists were taken. And they sent out emails to our entire contact list with invoices for $1,250. Obviously, it was fake. We had people pay, we had people’s money taken, and we had people scared, and alarmed. Obviously we were. And since then, we’ve been getting the same email from our clients in the community, so it’s gone beyond Element Prints.”

Other Steamboat Springs businesses have had the same hack and the same email sent to customers with the same invoice.

“Look for the email. Don’t trust it. Always call first. Call and ask if it’s real. Don’t pay the money. Don’t click on it. It’s always $1250.”

We checked with Steamboat Springs Police and were told if you are ever not sure, especially when someone is asking for money, call dispatch and ask to speak with a deputy.

More on the Story — Email and invoice scam hits Steamboat Springs businesses

The Routt County Board of County Commissioners meets this morning. One agenda item is a site plan review for a restaurant in Phippsburg. Agenda

Steamboat Springs City Council meets at 5 p.m. today. The last public hearing for the Mad Rabbit Trails project is on the agenda, as is a Steamboat Springs Parks & Recreation Commission report. Council will also meet in Executive Session about the Lift Ticket Tax.