Scrambling to meet a December 31st deadline, Colorado Parks and Wildlife have officially reintroduced wolves in the state of Colorado. A special referendum on the 2020 ballot in Colorado passed by a narrow margin in favor of reintroducing the wolves and the deadline set was by the end of 2023. Efforts by ranchers and hunters to stop the reintroduction have so far failed and on Monday, 5 wolves from Oregon were released in Colorado’s Grand County, at least 60 miles from any state border. While many ranchers still oppose the reintroduction, efforts to stop the reintroduction are not finding success. The Wolf Restoration and Management Plan allows ranchers and animal owners to get paid for injury and death to livestock and related veterinary expenses. Wildlife officials expect to reintroduce around 10 wolves per year for up to the next 5 years.
