Wildlife
officials craft rules on wolves
State prepares for future wanderers
By Gary Gerhardt, Rocky Mountain News
September 11, 2003
LAMAR - State wildlife officers now have
official guidelines governing what to do if wild wolves wander into
Colorado from Wyoming or New Mexico.
At the Colorado Wildlife Commission meeting Wednesday, Wildlife
Division Director Russ George said the commission and the legislature
have banned reintroduction of wolves in Colorado.
However, with Mexican wolves being reintroduced in New Mexico and wolf
packs in Yellowstone National Park expanding, it was deemed wise to know
what to do if one showed up here.
"One wolf was seen in Rock Springs (Wyo.), which is 70 miles
from our state line, although the closest pack is near Pinedale (Wyo.),
which is 150 miles away," George said.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers wolves north of
Interstate 70 a threatened species, and any south of there are
considered endangered. Endangered species get more protection.
George said there have been various calls to DOW personnel from
residents regarding potential sightings of wolves.
The areas with the greatest chance of wild wolf occurrences in
southern Colorado are west of U.S. 285 and south of U.S. 50 in
Montezuma, La Plata, Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, San Juan, Hinsdale,
Mineral and Rio Grande counties.
North of I-70, they may be in Moffat, Routt, Rio Blanco and Jackson
counties.
Wildlife managers have adopted the following actions to be taken if
an animal that appears to be a wild wolf is reported:
• If there is no conflict with humans or livestock, officers
will take a report, notify federal wildlife depredation officials and be
responsible for any follow-up actions, including putting out information
about wolf biology, identification, behavior and possible responses.
• If there is evidence of an attack on livestock or pets,
federal wildlife officials will be notified.
• If a wolf is killed, the Division of Wildlife director
will be notified, federal officials will be called in and a complete
investigation will be conducted.
"We already have wolves near Chama in New Mexico and in Antonito
on our side of the line," said Commissioner Olive Valdez, a
southern Colorado rancher. "People have seen them, but nothing has
been done about it."
