COLORADO — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has begun efforts to capture gray wolves in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada, intending to release them in Colorado.
This is part of the CPW's Wolf Restoration and Management Plan.
This announcement comes days after the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission denied the petition from Colorado ranchers to pause the wolf reintroduction plan.
CPW says that up to 15 wolves could be released in Colorado this year, but there will be additional operations to mitigate the impacts on ranchers including;
- a range rider program
- the development of a depredation response operations team
- effective non-lethal tools
- a site assessment program
- a carcass removal program
- a communications plan
The wolves from B.C. will be transported via aircraft, and will be released "as soon as possible once they arrive in the state to minimize stress on the animals."
With the reintroduction of these wolves, CPW says there is an increased likelihood of the wolves creating packs.
Once the packs are created, CPW can monitor the packs' patterns and allow officials to create better strategies for protecting livestock.
However, CPW says that wolves from B.C. are not from areas with livestock, "so there are no concerns" about reintroducing wolves that have created repeated patterns of killing/attacking livestock.
“We remain committed to working with all parties as we continue to implement the law as passed by the voters."
“We have been working all year in preparation to have more wolves on the landscape with an improved Conflict Minimization Program, the addition of new staff to work alongside producers, strengthened partnerships, and guidelines for producers as it relates to chronic depredation and lethal management considerations.”
CPW's Conflict Minimization Program can be found directly on their website.
Matthew Livelsberger: The Colorado Springs Man Found Inside The Las Vegas Cybertruck
Residents living in an east Colorado Springs townhome complex shared their disbelief after learning one of their neighbors was suspected of detonating explosives inside a Cybertruck in Las Vegas on New Year's Day.
____
Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.
