Colorado legislators are told that CPW agents are being threatened

January 15, 2025 Shannon Lukens

ag-committee-hearing-slider-courtesy-sophia-sickling

By Shannon Lukens. Cover photo courtesy Sophia Sickling.

State legislators had questions about the wolf introduction program Wednesday, in a Joint Senate and House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee meeting.

The meeting started out with the Deputy Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Reid Dewalt, talking about threats that have been made to CPW staff.

“But the fact is that we have been pretty heavily threatened during this operation, which is sad to say. We’ve been followed during the operation. We have people staking out our offices. There have been threats of violence on social media and through phone calls. We’re taking this very seriously. And it’s just unfortunate that that is occurring out there. I don’t think any CPW staff member should be threatened with violence because they’re doing their job.”

Senator Dylan Roberts is chair of the committee, representing Senate District 8 which includes Routt and Moffat counties.

“We appreciate those comments. I think everybody on the panel agrees with that and we thank the hard-working men and women of CPW.”

We reached out to Colorado Parks and Wildlife about any threats and whether arrests have been made and received the following statement, “CPW has no further comments on this topic.”

Wolves are being released in Colorado, anytime now through next weekend. CPW has not provided any more details except that it could be up to 15 wolves from British Columbia, in Pitkin, Garfield, or Eagle counties.

Here are comments from the different legislators on the Joint Senate and House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

CPW Executive Director Jeff Davis was not at the hearing.

Full comment from Colorado Parks and Wildlife Deputy Director Reid Dewalt on threats and safety of staff.

Senator Dylan Roberts then questioned Dewalt and Director of Natural Resources Dan Gibbs about the seven items ranchers had requested in a petition before the next round of wolves were released. That request was denied on Wednesday, June 8, by a vote of 10-1, at the CPW Commission meeting in Denver.

Senator Roberts went over each action item. 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

Representative Meghan Lukens from House District 26 represents Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and part of Eagle County, asked the status of the wolves right now, that are being brought to Colorado from British Columbia and when they will be released. Dewalt said CPW sent a notification last Saturday that the process had started and would take two weeks, and they’ll send out more communications after it is over. He knows there is frustration, but he again referenced staff safety.

Rep. Lukens also asked if ranchers have been notified. Dewalt says the regional officers have those conversations but he has been told that local landowners have been notified. He also said, “We are trying to release animals where there is not a lot of livestock currently and to be respectful of that.”

She also asked about the Chronic Gray Wolf Depredation Page and why it hasn’t been updated since Sept. 9. Dewalt says the larger claims are still being analyzed.

Senator Marc Catlin represents Senate District 5, which includes the counties of Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, and Pitkin. Senator Catlin asked about counties next to counties where wolves are being released, specifically Gunnison County which is next to Pitkin County. Dewalt said they have met with people from Gunnison County. Senator Catlin said CPW needs to be doing a better job of letting people know when where and how. “And I hope that the program will get better about notification and letting people get ready for these things.”

Representative Elizabeth Velasco represents House District 57, which is Garfield, Pitkin and the Roaring Fork area of Eagle County. Rep. Velasco expressed frustration that she hasn’t been told of meetings by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and not being involved enough with the issues in her district. DNR Director Gibbs says they will do a better job in setting up more frequent meetings with her. The focus has been more on local county commissioners in the specific counties.

She also said she understands keeping the staff, the community, and the animals safe. “But also the public trust is being eroded. We believe that the transparency is missing. That the secrecy is becoming a bigger issue than even the introduction of the wolves themselves.”

Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie represents House District 13 and the counties of Chaffee, Grand, Jackson, Lake, Park, and Summit. She thanked Director Gibbs and Deputy Director Dewalt and the time and effort that have spent in “getting this right.”

She also said there is never room or space for violent threats. “It disturbs me a great deal that our CPW employees are facing threats of violence, and if there is something we can do as a legislature to support those individuals, that is an important priority and please hear my voice when I say we are committed to that.”

She spoke of lessons learned and improvements made by the CPW team.

She then said, “But I am here today because of my concerns that the voices of our producers must be elevated and recognized in these conversations.”

Her specific concern is the claims made by ranchers for loss of livestock from wolf depredations. “Our producers, our ranchers, our farmers are not responsible for the costs that the reintroduction of wolves have brought to this state. These are folks that have responded to a change in how they have operated for years, if not decades, if not generations. And that challenge and those changes that have certainly put tremendous pressure and pain into these communities. They are not to blame for the expenses of the state and what we are trying to do to support them.”

Representative Matt Soper represents House District 54 and the counties of Mesa and Delta. Rep. Soper appreciated a phone call Saturday from CPW Director Davis. He says it is a very real concern for his constituents that wolves could come over from Pitkin County to Delta County in his district. He asked about costs and reimbursement.

Rep. Soper asked, “At what point are we able to say, do we have enough wolves, under Prop. 114.” Dewalt answered, “114 requires a sustainable wolf population.” He said it depends on the survivability of wolves. “After year three, we are going to look and make sure we have the number of wolves we feel for breeding and genetic diversity and hopefully we can stop then. If we lose a lot of wolves for some reason, we would need those additional years, but no more than five years according to the plan.”

Representative Katie Stewart represents House District 59 and the counties of Archuleta, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan. Rep. Stewart asked about a Memorandum of Understanding with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. She asked if the same could be done with the Ute Mountain Utes. Director Gibbs agreed and said they are working with the Ute Mountain Utes right now on finalizing an agreement.

Representative Tammy Story represents House District 25 in Jefferson County.

She said she appreciates the conversation. She went over the timeline of Proposition 114. “I know this is incredibly challenging and difficult for our ranchers to kind of get used to this idea, but I see this process continuing to move forward and a need for us all to continue to work together.”

She mentioned how Colorado has the highest amount of compensation for losses, “of all states in our country.”

She asked when counties were notified that wolves could be introduced to their counties. Dewalt explained the timeline of meetings with officials and residents in all of the counties affected.

Representative Matthew Martinez represents House District 62 and the counties of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Mineral, Pueblo, Rio Grande, and Saguache. He urged improvements in communication as we move forward. He said, “I know in the last couple of months, there seems to have been different messaging to the different groups that are pertaining to this, both pro-wolf reintroduction and anti-wolf reintroduction. And it seems like there is not the same message going forward.”

Representative Ty Winter is in House District 47 and the counties of Baca, Bent, Crowley, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers, and Pueblo. He asked the difference in size between the different wolf species.

Steamboat Radio News Past Coverage of wolves in Colorado

Jan. 12, 2025 — New wolves may have arrived from British Columbia
Jan. 11, 2025 — Up to 15 new gray wolves from British Columbia will be in Colorado within two weeks
Jan. 8, 2025 — Video of the CPW Commission vote, denying the Wolf Citizen Petition
Jan. 7, 2025 — Ag producers on Ad Hoc Wolf Working Group speak out before Wednesday’s CPW Commission meeting
Jan. 7, 2025 — STATE LEGISLATORS DISCUSS WOLVES AND THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Jan. 2, 2025 — A reward is offered for the person who shot a gray wolf in Grand County
Dec. 31, 2024 — Producers submit three wolf depredation claims for over $575,000
Dec. 23, 2024 — CPW releases definition and stipulations of Chronic Depredation and Lethal Management of wolves
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