As you likely know, the courts vacated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) 2020 final delisting rule of gray wolves. Gray wolves outside of the Northern Rocky Mountain population are now protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as endangered in Colorado and many other states.
Do you spend a great deal of time venting your frustration regarding the introduction/reintroduction of the gray wolf into Colorado? Now is your opportunity to have your opinion heard outside of your circle of friends and neighbors.
Because the wolves were relisted under the ESA, now the FWS is required to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has requested the designation of an experimental population under section 10(j) of the ESA to provide increased management flexibility. Most agriculture producers and other wildlife supporters are very supportive of this request. If the FWS identify the wolves as a non-essential experimental population, it will allow lethal control of problem wolves (those who kill livestock and pets).
Public comment period is open for input regarding the scope of the EIS beginning July 21 through August 22, 2022; comments can be submitted through regulations.gov.
Additionally, the FWS is hosting public meetings during which the public can provide comments. One is in Craig August 4, 2022 at Moffat County High School, Craig, CO, 6:00 – 8:00 PM and a virtual meeting August 10, 2022, 6:00-8:00 PM.
Register here for virtual meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u1R0y36VTx-mS4dnTwjfGg
During this scoping process, you can request that the FWS consider the environmental, social, and economic value of the potential 10(j) non-essential experimental population and associated management flexibility.
Once the FWS draft the EIS and draft 10(j) rule, there will be a separate public notice and comment period.
For more information about the management of gray wolves in Colorado, scan the QR code or visit the at https://www.fws.gov/office/colorado-ecological-services-field-office/colorado-gray-wolf-updates
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