Wolf reintroduction paused, legislation advances
On Jan. 21, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced a decision to pause gray wolf reintroduction efforts for the remainder of the current release season.
Industry groups including the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and ranchers across the West have welcomed the pause while continuing to call for ongoing policy reform.
Additionally, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) are praising advancements in legislation which aims to remove the Mexican gray wolf from the list of threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Reintroduction paused
Pausing wolf reintroduction is meant to allow CPW to focus on supporting existing wolf populations and managing ongoing restoration efforts, as noted in a Jan. 21 press release issued by the organization.
A primary concern of CPW is continuing to navigate conflicts with ranchers and achieving a “self-sustaining gray wolf population” following a high mortality rate in 2025.
According to a Jan. 20 Colorado Daily Sun article by Tracy Ross, the death loss of reintroduced wolves has reached 12 since the beginning of reintroduction efforts – nearly one-half of the original 25 animals which were released in the state between December 2023 and January 2025.
Ross further notes the survival rate of reintroduced wolves currently sits at 56 percent – well below the early rates predicted by the CPW Commission when it first adopted the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan.
CPW says the impact of stopping releases is dependent upon several factors, including wolf survival and reproduction.
The agency also says it will assess the existing population throughout the year in order to determine whether to start translocation efforts again in winter 2026-27.
“During this intermediate time, CPW will continue to meet with producers and other stakeholders, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to explore how to maximize the restoration effort and achieve our plan of establishing a self-sustaining gray wolf population in Colorado,” says CPW Acting Director Laura Clellan.
“Our team has invested in a significant conflict minimization program, and we look forward to exploring how to continue improving this program with producers to protect both livestock and wolves,” Clellan adds.
While reintroduction is paused, CPW vows to continue making management decisions on a case-by-case basis after evaluating circumstances, the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan and relevant law.
“This is a complicated effort, and I want to encourage all stakeholders to continue to work together as we move toward the goal of creating a self-sustaining population of wolves in the state, while at the same time minimizing conflict with livestock,” Clellan concludes.
Legislation advances
On another front, legislation to delist the Mexican gray wolf from the ESA has advanced to the next step.
On Jan. 22, the House Natural Resources Committee voted to advance the Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025. Led by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), the legislation has been backed with bipartisan support.
The Mexican gray wolf was first listed as an endangered species in 1976, and the population has grown significantly in the decades since.
If enacted, the bill would delist the Mexican gray wolf and reduce regulatory barriers regarding management practices, allowing state and local authorities more flexibility in managing conflicts between wolves, livestock and people.
Supporters of the decision, including NCBA and PLC, cite concerns about livestock losses and general safety in rural areas, arguing the species is no longer endangered and federal protections have made it difficult to respond in dangerous situations where wolves have posed threats to both animal and human lives.
“The Mexican wolf population has grown well beyond recovery goals, yet producers are left without the tools needed to protect their livestock, their families and their livelihoods,” says NCBA Policy Division Chair Skye Krebs. “When predators can’t be responsibly managed, it puts people at risk and undermines the stewardship efforts of those who live and work on the land every day.”
Industry responds
NCBA and PLC ex-
pressed further support for delisting the Mexican gray wolf in a Jan. 23 press release, arguing the proposed legislation would help restore “commonsense wildlife management authority while providing much-needed relief to cattle producers and rural communities across the Southwest.”
Colorado Rancher and PLC President Tim Canterbury praises the legislation as “a step toward alleviating the challenges southwestern producers face,” including ongoing livestock depredation, disrupted grazing operations and delayed or denied response to problem animals – often with little to no compensation for losses.
Regarding the pause in gray wolf reintroduction, CCA issued a statement immediately after CPW’s decision was made public on Jan. 21.
In a press release, CCA commends the pause as “a constructive step” and calls for continued reform to existing wolf policy, as well as increased attention to ongoing problems.
“CCA views this decision as a constructive step reflecting the need for the state to pause and address ongoing concerns raised by livestock producers and rural communities,” the release states. “Listening to those most directly affected is essential as Colorado continues to navigate wolf management.”
However, CCA then emphasizes halting releases does not eliminate ongoing problems faced by producers.
The organization en-
courages the state to focus on practical, producer-driven solutions including authorizing take authority in applicable situations, affording compensation for confirmed and probable livestock losses and continuing direct engagement with producers to address on-the-ground realities.
“A pause in releases must not mean a pause in action,” says CCA President Curt Russell. “Producers are living with wolves today, and effective management tools, compensation and responsiveness from the state are critical during this period.”
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
