BREAKING: After press time Wednesday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife issued an updated list of potential counties where the next batch of wolves will be released. Rio Blanco County has been removed from that list, leaving Garfield, Eagle, and Pitkin counties as potential sites.
A press release sent Wednesday, Nov. 13 after 6 p.m. states: “Rio Blanco County was removed as a potential location as the next level of analysis was conducted due to the limited number of state-owned sites that adhered to the criteria in the plan and their proximity to livestock, elevating the risk of conflict, as well as the potential impact to elk and deer herds recovering from the severe winter of 2022-23. Another consideration was adjacency to existing wolves on the landscape.”
As state’s next round of wolf releases looms, concerned residents organize meeting
MEEKER | Colorado Parks and Wildlife has begun planning for the next round of gray wolf releases. On Friday, Nov. 8, CPW Director Jeff Davis, Northwest Regional Manager Travis Black, Area Wildlife Managers and Wolf Program staff met with county commissioners and staff from counties where CPW is considering releasing wolves during the 2024-25 capture and release season. County representatives were from Rio Blanco County, Garfield County, Eagle County and Pitkin County.
“As we move forward with the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan, which is mandated by law, we are committed to having conversations with local elected officials and communities near possible release areas,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis.
During the half-day meeting in Rifle, CPW staff shared the current status of wolves in Colorado, initial planning and approaches to the upcoming capture and release efforts, and an overview of criteria needed for potential release locations. Topics also included a brief recap of non-lethal mitigation presentations currently underway with local agricultural communities and other efforts underway within the wolf management program to minimize wolf-livestock conflict.
At the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting in August, CPW announced it would once again be releasing wolves in the northern release zone. When identifying potential release locations, local area wildlife managers and biologists, and wolf program biologists identified state-owned lands that are within the landscape context that will support wolves, keeping in mind movement immediately after the release. This included looking at the availability of natural prey sources during that time of year and appropriate habitat. In addition, staff is also considering access, safety for staff and animals, potential impacts due to weather conditions, and equipment needed.
“State statute has provided constraints on where wolves can be released. Within those constraints, the Wolf Restoration and Management Plan identifies additional consideration as to where restoration can occur,” stated Travis Black, Northwest Region Manager. “We feel it is important to provide insight into our planning process, highlighting how we select potential release sites that align with these established boundaries.”
Final release site decisions will not be made until the operation is underway. Variables, including weather, animal welfare, staff safety, and many other day-of-operation logistics and possible scenarios, are taken into consideration when making the final decisions for release.
During the December 2023 wolf releases, (CPW) observed that several wolves made significant movements in the months following their release, which was to be expected. With this in mind, CPW staff are looking at social considerations, human and livestock, in the areas surrounding the release sites, where potential movement could occur. This included analyzing human presence, recreational activities, and established communities, and assessing the potential for conflicts with livestock.
Wrapping up the meeting, county commissioners had an opportunity to ask questions and share feedback they are hearing from their local communities and producers.
“We recognize that this is a challenging situation and all involved are listening to their constituents. We wanted to create an opportunity for officials to have their questions answered and to understand how we can assist our local partners in informing their communities,” said Davis.
In addition to this meeting, CPW has been collaborating with the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) to host Conflict Reduction Training sessions in several counties within the Northwest Region. During these training sessions, producers receive valuable information on various topics, including range riding, carcass management, livestock protection dogs and investigations into wolf depredation. This training aims to prepare agricultural producers ahead of the calving and lambing season, which typically occurs in early spring each year.
“As restoration efforts continue, CPW is focused on supporting an environment where livestock producers, communities, state agencies and partners work both individually and together in order to reduce the likelihood of wolf-livestock conflict. Effective and innovative solutions will result from this local expertise and extended, respectful collaboration. These relationships are critical to the success of wolf restoration in Colorado while at the same time supporting agricultural and rural communities and the vital role they play in Colorado’s economy, heritage and conservation efforts,” said Davis.
The meeting on Nov. 8 in Rifle marks the beginning of the collaboration efforts as we enter the next phase of gray wolf introductions and continues the discussions that have been taking place since January 2024. Colorado Parks and Wildlife remains committed to engaging further with county officials, local producers, and other stakeholders in areas where wolves currently reside and in locations where wolves may be released in the future.
Shortly after the Nov. 8 meeting, a private Facebook group released an unsubstantiated comment about potential locations for the wolf release in Rio Blanco County at Oak Ridge and/or Jensen SWAs. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Public Information Officer Travis Duncan, “exact locations have not been chosen for this year’s wolf reintroduction releases.”
Local residents have planned a public meeting on Monday, Nov. 18 at the Fairfield Center at 6:30 p.m. for discussion.
Commissioners submit letter of opposition to wolf release in RBC
RBC | Rio Blanco County Commissioners approved a letter of opposition to be sent to Colorado Parks and Wildlife regarding the release of wolves at their regular meeting Tuesday. (Note: full coverage of the board meeting will be in next week’s edition.)
The letter of opposition states: “The Board of County Commissioners of Rio Blanco County, Colorado appreciate the opportunity to meet and discuss the upcoming wolf release plans for the 2024/25 winter. We appreciate the professionalism of your staff and the transparency provided during these discussions.
We reiterate Rio Blanco County’s (RBC) firm opposition to the release of wolves within our county.
Below are critical concerns, supported by the Rio Blanco County Land and Natural Resources Plan and Policies (LNRP), which further underscore our position:
1. Unresolved Issues with Wolf Management: The LNRP emphasizes the need for well-planned and coordinated resource management, particularly when dealing with challenges that affect local livelihoods (LNRP Section 2.3). Before any additional wolves are released, it is essential that:
● Site assessments are fully completed.
● A robust and adequately funded range rider program is operational.
● Carcass removal protocols are in place to reduce attractants.
● CPW commits to addressing chronic depredation issues promptly.
2. Local Opposition and Voter Sentiment: As highlighted in Section 4.1 of the LNRP, protecting the customs and culture of RBC is a core value.
The overwhelming 87.8% vote against Proposition 114 demonstrates the local community’s strong opposition to wolf reintroduction. In contrast, Pitkin County, which voted 61.7% in favor, should be prioritized, especially if willing landowners there are open to participation.
3. Impact on Oak Ridge State Park and Surrounding Areas: Oak Ridge State Park was intended to provide critical winter habitat for deer and elk, mitigating game damage on private lands. Releasing wolves in this area would directly contradict the LNRP’s goal of maintaining balance between wildlife and agricultural land use (Section 4.15). Key concerns include:
● Displacement of wildlife onto private lands, increasing game damage claims.
● Heightened risk to livestock during spring calving season.
● Wildlife populations in Oak Ridge and Jensen remain under objective levels after a severe winter, aligning with LNRP policies on managing wildlife populations sustainably (Section 4.15.2).
4. Economic and Recreational Impacts: The LNRP underscores the importance of maintaining economic viability for agriculture, energy, and recreation industries (Section 4.8). Releasing wolves threatens:
● Livestock and Ranching: Oak Ridge is surrounded by over 15,000 head of livestock, forming a critical component of RBC’s agricultural economy.
● Recreation and Small Businesses: The county’s outfitters and hunting-related businesses heavily rely on healthy big game populations. Wolves could diminish the hunting experience and reduce tourism revenue, in direct conflict with LNRP’s policies supporting economic sustainability (Section 4.8.2).
5. Historical and Policy Opposition: Rio Blanco County’s 2021 resolution opposing wolf reintroduction is consistent with LNRP policies that prioritize local input in federal and state decisions affecting public lands and natural resources (Section 2.1). The resolution reflects our ongoing commitment to safeguarding the economic and cultural heritage of our community.
Conclusion: The LNRP makes it clear that resource management decisions must be informed by local expertise and prioritize the economic, cultural, and environmental health of the county. Policies driven by urban interests must not jeopardize the stability of rural communities. For these reasons, we strongly urge CPW to reconsider releasing wolves in Rio Blanco County and instead prioritize areas where public support aligns with the goals of wolf restoration. We appreciate your attention to these concerns and look forward to further collaboration.
The Board of County Commissioners of Rio Blanco County, Colorado will be holding a public meeting on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at the Fairfield Center (200 Main St.) The public is invited to attend and provide comment.
