WildEarth Guardians

Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Proverbial Lone Wolf Wanders into Northern Colorado

Conservationists push to reintroduce more wolves as a 'welcoming committee'
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

DENVER - Conservationists welcomed news that a radio-collared wolf has wandered into northern Colorado after a journey of nearly 1,000 miles from its origin in Montana. According to the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the wolf’s global positioning satellite collar indicated her last known position was in Eagle County. The 18-month old female separated from her pack just north of Yellowstone National Park in September; she has now traveled across five states, federal biologists said. The Colorado Division of Wildlife's press release can be found at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/PressReleases/Press.asp?PressId=5864.

“This energetic little female wolf is one of a very few wolves that have made the treacherous journey from the Northern Rockies to northern Colorado," said Rob Edward of WildEarth Guardians. The last known wild wolf to enter Colorado from Wyoming was killed on I-70 near Idaho Springs in 2004. “Sadly, though, at this rate, Colorado will not likely see a breeding population of wolves in the next several decades unless we reintroduce them, as we have successfully done with Canada lynx," said Edward.

Government trappers exterminated the last known breeding population of wolves in Colorado in the 1940s. Likewise, by the 1970s trapping drove Canada lynx to extinction in the state. “Colorado wildlife managers have successfully reintroduced lynx, so we have no doubt that their federal counterparts can also restore wolves. They just need to craft a plan and put it into action.” Lynx, said Edward, are much more difficult to re-establish than wolves. “Wolves will be happy anywhere there's enough elk or deer to eat," he said. “The only other thing they need is a little human tolerance.”

“This wandering wolf has shown that there is still a tenuous, though valuable, connection between Colorado and the Northern Rockies wolf population. Now, we need to put some wolves on the ground here so that the next wolf that wanders down from Wyoming has a welcoming committee," said Edward, underscoring the fact that scientific evidence suggests that Colorado is not likely to be naturally recolonized by wolves from Yellowstone. Further, Edward noted that the alarming pace of energy development in southern Wyoming threatens to further diminish the ability of wolves to safely roam south to Colorado.

“Colorado needs wolves, and wolves need Colorado,” said Edward. He indicated that WildEarth Guardians had recently petitioned the federal government to develop a recovery plan for wolves [more on this topic can be found at: http://bit.ly/TF0W7]. The petition indicates that the government has a legal responsibility to restore wolves to the Southern Rocky Mountains. Presently, wolves occupy less than five-percent of their former rage in the lower forty-eight states. Edward stated that this latest wandering wolf is likely to find Colorado very inviting. The state hosts the largest elk population in North America, and one of the largest deer populations.

“We hope that while she’s here, she’ll wander over to Rocky Mountain National Park and chase some of their elk around,” said Edward, referring to the Park’s need to restore wolves in order to keep the elk population vigilant. “There’s plenty of room for her to get some exercise and a meal,” he said. WildEarth Guardians is presently suing the National Park Service over their elk management plan, claiming that the agency failed to fully consider restoring a free-roaming population of wolves.

Wolves that amble into Colorado are legally protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. Edward noted that harassing, injuring or killing wolves is punishable by sizable fines and prison time under the federal law.

In 2005, the Colorado Wildlife Commission adopted a management plan that states wolves entering Colorado should be allowed to roam freely, wherever they find habitat and prey. Although the state presently has no management authority over wolves (because they are an endangered species), Edward indicates that the state's official stance on wolves is progressive.

“We welcome any and all wolves that venture into Colorado," said Edward. “Colorado's wild places need wolves-and the sooner the better.”