{"id":35015,"date":"2023-03-28T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/southern-utes-ask-colorado-parks-and-wildlife-to-restrict-wolf-releases-to-northern-zone\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T08:22:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:22:12","slug":"southern-utes-ask-colorado-parks-and-wildlife-to-restrict-wolf-releases-to-northern-zone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/southern-utes-ask-colorado-parks-and-wildlife-to-restrict-wolf-releases-to-northern-zone\/","title":{"rendered":"Southern Utes ask Colorado Parks and Wildlife to restrict wolf releases to northern zone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Wildlife
Wildlife advocates suggest that after three phases of introduction and management, Colorado could host 150 packs or about 750 wolves, with a population ranging from 600 to 1,500. (Dawn Villell\/The Associated Press file)<\/span>onset<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

It was not until Feb. 22 \u2013 the last possible day for the public to submit comments \u2013 that the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission received a letter from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe about the draft wolf restoration and management plan.<\/p>\n

The commission held five meetings about the proposal to hear community feedback. The bulk of comments came, primarily, from representatives of two factions: Wildlife advocates urged the commission to adopt more stringent language limiting any potential hunting of wolves, while ranchers voiced concerns about their perceived inability to defend stock from predators.<\/p>\n

The tribe\u2019s letter made known the concerns of a small but critical group of stakeholders. The points of contention, as outlined by Chairman Melvin Baker, are similar in spirit to those put forth by a litany of Western Slope ranchers.<\/p>\n

But while ranchers are among CPW\u2019s constituencies, the Southern Ute Tribe is a sovereign nation. And the tribe is asking the agency to consider its requests accordingly.<\/p>\n

Wolf reintroduction: Why, when and where<\/div>\n

In 2020, Colorado voters approved Ballot Initiative 114. The measure set in motion a multiyear process to develop a plan for the reintroduction of gray wolves predicated on stakeholder engagement and scientific data. CPW must take the steps to reintroduce gray wolves west of the Continental Divide by the end of 2023.<\/p>\n

The species is currently listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.<\/p>\n

CPW convened a Technical Working Group<\/a> and a Stakeholder Advisory Group<\/a>, both of which met over a dozen times from June 2021 through August 2022. The groups contributed nonbinding advisory input on the plans development.<\/p>\n

On Dec. 9, the commission released a draft plan<\/a>, which was the product of the working groups as well as about 47 public meetings involving several thousand Colorado residents. Five more public meetings followed to hear comment on the plan, the last of which was held on Feb. 22.<\/p>\n

Commissioners gave CPW staff members direction on revisions to the plan at the meeting as a result of the comments they had heard, and approval of the final plan will begin at the April 6 commission meeting<\/a> in Steamboat Springs.<\/p>\n

The plan recommends the release of 10 to 15 wolves annually over the next three to five years.<\/p>\n

Based on observations of wolves that have been reintroduced in other states and their likelihood to travel, CPW will release the animals a minimum of 60 miles from the border with New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, as well as the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribal lands.<\/p>\n

According to the plan, multiple studies have shown that Colorado\u2019s Western Slope has the ecological capacity to support a wolf population. Using maps of the region that show ecological suitability and potential for human conflict, two zones were selected for consideration of wintertime releases.<\/p>\n

The northern zone follows the I-70 corridor between Glenwood Springs and Vail and extends down toward the Roaring Fork Valley. The southern zone is centered around Gunnison. Releases in the first year will occur in the northern zone only, while subsequent releases are likely to occur in or near both the northern and southern zones.<\/p>\n

\"The
The draft Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan identifies a northern and southern zone in which wintertime wolf releases are likely to take place. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe is requesting that releases take place only in the northern zone, which is farther from tribal land and the Brunot Area, which consists of 3.7 million acres in the San Juans to which tribal members have hunting access. (Courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Tribal concerns: Retention of imperiled rights<\/div>\n

Western Slope ranchers aired grievances regarding the proposed cap on wolf-livestock depredation compensation, and voiced support for a section of the draft that opened the door for ranchers to use lethal force against wolves down the road.<\/p>\n

In his letter to the commission, Chairman Baker echoed concerns that an $8,000 per animal cap on depredation was too low. The commission indicated support for raising that cap to $15,000 per animal.<\/p>\n

But the bulk of his letter addressed the issue of tribal sovereignty and the retention of the tribe\u2019s hunting rights.<\/p>\n