Colorado Unmanaged Wolf Population Growth
Colorado lost public trapping in 1996, In May of 2023, the Governor’s Wildlife Commission removed any lethal method of take from the wolf management plan. Which leaves Colorado with no way to curtail the population growth of wolves. Based on Wolf population growth data from Idaho and Montana, prior to the delisting in those two states, wolf numbers increased rapidly past the intended introduction delisting goals. Lawsuits filed by the radical enviros kept the delisting from being declared in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.
The Alliance’s lead consulting biologist Dr. Matt Cronin has charted the growth of the wolf population in Montana prior to implementation of any management tools.
(Note Chart 2). He then took that same data formula and did a prediction of wolf growth in Colorado. (Note Chart B.)
Colorado will have a run-a-way wolf population.
Our Livestock Industry
If USFWS grants a 10(J) permit, and the Governor denies the implementation of it, our Ranchers and Farmers will suffer financial losses. Even with the compensation within the Colorado Wolf Intro Plan, the overall collateral damage in cow/calf, ewe/ lamb reproduction losses will be irrecoverable.
If USEWS grants a 10 (J) permits and the radical enviros sue and get a stay on the permit, the Governor might push for a release on state and private lands anyway. Again. the livestock industry will be suffering over all collateral financial losses. (See Mexican Wolf Document : Collateral Damage Identification)
As of 3/1/24, there is a new bill working it’s way through the legislature that will further affect our Ranching & Livestock industry. It’s referred to as the Wildlife Coexistence Bill. It won’t make their lives any easier. We feel as if NEPA had been followed, this would have been fleshed out during that process and not required in an “after the fact” bill.
Our Big Game Populations
They say that history repeats itself, and that we should learn from it. Well Colorado did not heed that warning. From the introduction of the Canadian Gray Wolf into the Yellowstone ecosystem in 1995, data from Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming shows declines in big game populations. Data from Wyoming shows major declines in moose, elk, and mule deer due to wolf predation. (Note Wyoming Data Chart C)
Interesting enough, Colorado has seen declines in mule deer, and elk over the past two decade, but not due to wolf predation. Colorado’s bear and Mt. lion populations have risen substantially, increasing predation. Southwest Colorado has seen elk declines in recruitment and herd numbers. This winterkill of 2022 / 2023 has drastically hit Northwest Colorado big game herds. Migrating wolves from Wyoming have begun to prey on elk in Northwest Colorado. If more wolves are introduced into Colorado, within 5 years, Colorado will experience the same major declines as our northern neighboring states. Currently, Colorado has no public trapping and the Govenor’s CPW Commission has removed any lethal method of managing wolves. Colorado will have a run-a-way population of wolves. (Note Chart B)
The Spread Of Disease
In 1995 and 1996, the USFWS introduced the Canadian Gray Wolves into the Yellowstone Ecosystem. What they didn’t do was to ensure that those wolves were free of any harmful diseases. The worldwide, well known disease, Echinococcus granulosus, also known as Hydatid disease, is a zoonotic disease. Meaning it is a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. The wolves that USFWS introduced, were never thoroughly treated for that disease. The genotypes g-8 and g-10 are known as Echinococcus Canadensis. According to the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, that strain of the disease had never before been found in Idaho or Montana before the introduction. (Note Report D.) Echinococcus Canadensis is a life threatening disease. (Echinococcosis in the US) The wolves migrating into Colorado are caring that strain of disease. Scat collected from the wolf pack found in Moffat County in 2020, tested positive for Echinococcus Canadensis. (Watch Video)