By Rob Edward
The Rocky Mountain Wolf Project (RMWP) welcomes the news that Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) has successfully completed Colorado’s second year of gray wolf translocation efforts—a critical milestone in restoring this keystone species to its native habitat. This year’s operation saw the release of 15 wolves from British Columbia and five members of the Copper Creek Pack into Eagle and Pitkin counties, advancing Colorado’s commitment to establishing a sustainable wolf population.
Courtney Vail, RMWP Board Chair, celebrated the achievement: “Colorado’s arms are open to these pioneering and resilient wolves. We are beside them, rooting for their success and wellbeing. Likewise, we are ever thankful for the professionals in charge of their stewardship. While others, in decades past, paved the way with successful wolf reintroductions in surrounding states, Colorado’s endeavor is historic because it is state-led and reflects the will of our citizens.” As a member of the ad hoc working group, Vail also emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration among ranchers, agency personnel, and wolf advocates in successfully minimizing conflicts between wolves and livestock production.
The reintroduction effort highlights Colorado’s leadership in biodiversity conservation during a time of global ecological challenges. Dr. Joanna Lambert, University of Colorado-Boulder professor and RMWP Board Member, underscored its broader significance: “This is an enormous feat. What Colorado Parks & Wildlife has accomplished is vastly greater than the sum of its parts. It is not just about 15 wolves on the ground. This work is about a continental-wide and inter-governmental effort advancing the recovery of an endangered species. It sets the standard for how to get the job done in an era of loss and biodiversity extinction.”
This year’s translocations also included the re-release of a female wolf and her four pups from Colorado’s Copper Creek Pack. This decision ensures that the pups learn essential survival skills alongside their mother, advancing efforts to establish a self-sustaining population.
RMWP commends Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) for its proactive measures to address potential conflicts with livestock producers through its Conflict Minimization Program. By implementing proven non-lethal tools such as range riders and carcass management strategies, CPW is working to balance wolf restoration with agricultural interests.
As we mark this historic milestone on the 30th anniversary of gray wolf reintroductions in Yellowstone National Park, the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project remains steadfast in its mission to support wolf restoration in Colorado, ensuring that gray wolves thrive once again in the wild landscapes from northern Mexico to the high Arctic.
Rob Edward writes on behalf of Rocky Mountain Wolf Project.