Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) is kicking off an operation to capture and relocate up to 15 gray wolves from British Columbia to the Centennial State, according to a press release provided to Field & Stream. The operation is another step in a species restoration process mandated by Proposition 114, a narrowly-passed ballot initiative that requires CPW to release 30 to 50 wolves in the state over a 3- to 5-year span.
CPW transferred 10 wolves into the state from Oregon in December 2023. That effort did not go smoothly. After explicitly telling the public that it wouldn’t release wolves with a history of livestock depredation in the state, CPW did just that—and unsurprisingly, several of the wolves began killing livestock in Colorado.
This prompted officials to capture and remove an entire pack from the wild. In recent months, CPW officials say they’ve been working to adapt their approach to wolf management before releasing the additional wolves from British Columbia.
“The commencement of capture operations follows work to adopt a number of wolf-livestock conflict minimization measures, including a range rider program, a definition of chronic depredation, the development of a depredation response operations team, effective non-lethal tools, a site assessment program, a carcass removal program, and a communications plan,” explained a spokesperson in the press release.
Additionally, the wildlife management agency recently denied a citizen petition that sought to delay further gray wolf release efforts. “Ultimately, and in alignment with voter intent with Proposition 114, CPW will recover and maintain a viable, self-sustaining wolf population in Colorado while balancing the need to manage interactions between wolves, people and livestock,” wrote a CPW spokesperson. “Adding wolves from British Columbia to the existing population in Colorado will increase the likelihood of pairing, breeding and pack formation.”
British Columbia has a gray wolf population estimated to be between 5,300 to 11,600 animals. Wolves released in the state will be examined for diseases, radio-collared, and transported to the West Slope of Colorado via aircraft. Additional, CPW officials say they'll capture wolves in places where livestock are not present, so they won’t have to worry about wolves with livestock depredation histories.
Still, the impending release of additional wolves will almost certainly be met with consternation from many of the state’s ranchers and sportsmen. In fact, a non-profit called “Colorado Advocates for Smart Wolf Policy” is seeking to put another initiative on the ballot—this time to repeal Proposition 114 and halt wolf restoration efforts.
Related: Colorado Parks & Wildlife Names Three Counties Where It Could Release Wolves This Winter
“Our goal is to reverse a wrong that we believe happened in 2020 and maybe start fresh," the nonprofit’s campaign manager Patrick Davis told CBS News. "Our first step is to stop the bleeding and to get the wolf reintroduction repealed in November of 2026."