Colorado now has gray wolves (Canis lupus) again, marking a significant milestone in the state’s conservation history. Their presence is the result of a recent, planned effort to restore the species to its native habitat, mandated by a statewide vote. This planned restoration is actively underway, managed by state wildlife officials on the Western Slope.
Historical Presence and Eradication
The gray wolf was once a widespread native predator throughout Colorado, inhabiting nearly all major habitat types. These apex predators primarily fed on vast herds of native ungulates, such as bison, elk, and deer.
The balance of the ecosystem began to shift dramatically during the late 1800s. Market hunters severely depleted the wolves’ traditional prey base, causing the carnivores to turn their attention to domestic livestock. This led to organized, government-sponsored predator control programs aimed at protecting the burgeoning ranching industry. Wolves were systematically killed through methods like shooting, trapping, and poisoning. By the mid-1940s, the gray wolf had been completely extirpated, ending its continuous historical presence in the state.
The Mandate for Reintroduction
The modern return of the wolf was initiated by a political mechanism. In November 2020, Colorado voters narrowly passed Proposition 114, officially titled the “Restoration of Gray Wolves.” This citizen-led ballot measure succeeded, making Colorado the first U.S. state to approve the reintroduction of a species via public vote.
The passage of Proposition 114 created a statutory requirement for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to develop and implement a management plan. The measure directed CPW to begin reintroducing gray wolves onto designated lands west of the Continental Divide by the end of 2023. A core component of the mandate was the establishment of a compensation fund to reimburse livestock owners for losses caused by wolves.
The public debate centered on contrasting views of ecological recovery and economic impact. Supporters argued that wolves would restore natural ecological balance, pointing to benefits like regulating elk populations. Opponents, primarily from the agricultural sector, raised concerns about the financial and operational burden of managing wolf-livestock conflict.
Implementation and Current Distribution
CPW officially began the physical reintroduction process in late 2023 to meet the voter-mandated deadline. The initial phase involved sourcing wild wolves from Oregon through a partnership with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. In December 2023, ten gray wolves were successfully captured and translocated to Colorado.
These first released animals were set free onto public lands in the northern Western Slope, primarily within Grand and Summit counties. The overall plan aims to translocate approximately 30 to 50 wolves over a three-to-five-year period to establish a self-sustaining population. Subsequent releases, including an additional 15 wolves in early 2025, have occurred in counties such as Eagle and Pitkin.
The long-term goal is to reach a population threshold that allows the species to be removed from the state’s endangered list. CPW’s management plan sets initial benchmarks, requiring a local population of at least 50 wolves for four successive years to move the species from “state endangered” to “state threatened.” The reintroduction focuses on the Western Slope because it offers extensive tracts of public land and a substantial prey base, mainly elk, necessary for the wolves’ establishment.
State Management and Conflict Resolution
The Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan, developed by CPW, provides the administrative framework for managing the growing population. A significant focus of the plan is mitigating potential conflict between wolves and livestock. The state has established a compensation program to reimburse ranchers for confirmed losses of livestock due to wolf depredation.
This program offers fair market value for the animal, with payments capped at $15,000 per animal. The plan prioritizes non-lethal conflict minimization techniques as the first line of defense for livestock producers. CPW provides technical and financial assistance, including grants for non-lethal tools and support for the Colorado Range Rider Program, which employs riders to monitor livestock and deter wolves.
The management plan also outlines specific rules for lethal control, which is only permitted under strict conditions to address chronic depredation. This flexibility is managed under a federal 10(j) rule designation, allowing CPW to manage the wolves as an experimental population.