Colorado's Wolf Comeback: A Bittersweet Revival

The ambitious effort to bring wolves back to Colorado has hit some unexpected snags.

Two years ago under a bright Colorado sky, state officials gathered in the mountainous northwest region, surrounded by several hefty metal crates. Interested onlookers watched as one by one, each crate was opened to reveal gray wolves—one of the country's most debated endangered species.

This marked a monumental step for conservationists.

Historically, gray wolves roamed vast regions of the continental US. However, through the 19th and 20th centuries, they were systematically eradicated, disappearing from Colorado by the 1940s.

In a groundbreaking decision in 2020, voters in Colorado chose to reintroduce these predators. The aim wasn't merely to add wolves to the scenery but to amend disrupted ecosystems and regain lost biodiversity. As keystone predators, wolves naturally regulate the populations of species like deer and elk, which can otherwise overgraze vegetation, spread diseases, and contribute to traffic accidents.

During the winter of 2023, authorities coordinated the release of ten wolves from Oregon on publicly owned land in the northwest. This endeavor continued the following January with fifteen additional wolves from Canada. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), tasked with this monumental reintroduction, has plans to release between 30 and 50 wolves over several years, aiming to establish a self-sustaining population.

Following the release, Governor Jared Polis heralded this as a historic day for Colorado, celebrating the return of wolf howls to its landscapes for the first time in decades.

However, current developments paint a somewhat chaotic picture.

To date, ten of the wolves introduced have perished, alongside one pup. The state is now struggling to secure more wolves to continue the reintroduction effort. Meanwhile, costs have far exceeded initial budgets.

This isn’t an indictment of the reintroduction initiative itself—it was never expected to be simple. The obstacles encountered highlight the immense complexities of re-integrating top predators into landscapes heavily altered by human activity, especially when these animals have been the subject of deep-seated apprehension.

Understanding the Losses

Wolves face a multitude of survival challenges, with many dying naturally due to diseases or territorial disputes, explains Joanna Lambert, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Colorado Boulder. In the case of Colorado's wolves, intra-species aggression and mountain lion predation have claimed some lives, as reported by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Human-altered habitats add another layer of risk. One wolf was discovered dead in May, likely hit by a vehicle, while another was caught in a trap meant for coyotes. Ironically, two wolves fell to lethal measures imposed by authorities: one put down by CPW after livestock conflicts and another killed by USDA officials after crossing into Wyoming. This federal division, often undermining wildlife to protect commercial interests, illustrates the conflict between agriculture and wildlife conservation.

Complex Conflicts

Officials have made efforts to protect farm animals from wolf predation, employing livestock guardians known as ‘range riders.’ Unfortunately, amidst vast ranchlands, such measures fall short, and predation continues.

Similar efforts to reintroduce predators elsewhere, like jaguars in Arizona, face analogous struggles. The appearance or reality of predator-farmer conflicts complicates efforts significantly. Wolves present their own unique set of challenges, often more heatedly contested.

Sourcing New Wolves

Finding additional wolves presents another challenge. Initially, the plan was to source them from Canada, but later federal restrictions limited imports to within the US. Discussions with Washington state to acquire wolves were unsuccessful as the state grapples with its decreasing wolf numbers.

Other states like Montana and Wyoming have outright refused to contribute their wolves, though the reasons are murky at best. Despite these setbacks, CPW remains dedicated to acquiring more wolves from alternative sources, aiming for a winter 2024 release.

According to Lambert, assessing the true success of the reintroduction will require years of observation and adaptation.

"We’re playing the long game," Lambert notes.

Encouragingly, the program has shown promising signs with the birth of wolf pups—four litters have been observed this year. This evidence suggests wolves are adapting to their new home and starting to thrive in Colorado's wilderness.

"The fact that we're seeing reproduction is critical," Eric Odell, CPW's wolf conservation manager, stated optimistically at a public briefing. "Despite the hurdles, our goal of successful reintroduction hasn't faltered."