I appreciate Art Requena addressing his concerns about wolf restoration in Colorado (“This is no time to bring more wolves,” letters, Sept. 26), but there are factual inaccuracies which would benefit from clarification.
The last known wolf pack in Colorado was destroyed in 1943. Since then, wolves have not re-established a population in Colorado. Art may be recalling a recent story when a radio-collared wolf from Yellowstone made its way to Jackson County in July of this year. Despite the appearance of this lone wolf, without a mate to establish a pack, this individual does not constitute a population.
Wolves will travel great distances looking for a mate, but cannot survive long on their own. It is certainly exciting to see a wolf make the journey from Wyoming to Colorado, but to claim Colorado has wolves is disingenuous at best.
Furthermore, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has not taken a position on ballot Initiative 107 to restore gray wolves. CPW has made it clear the decision to reintroduce wolves lies in the General Assembly. That’s exactly what this initiative does; it allows the people to decide whether or not Colorado is ready for wolf restoration.
If passed, Initiative 107 would turn to CPW to create and implement a reintroduction plan following public hearings, to better consider all the stakeholders impacted. Currently, wolves entering Colorado have the full protections of the Endangered Species Act.
If wolves are already here, as Art suggests, wouldn’t Colorado benefit from having a plan?
Initiative 107 gives us that power.
John Murtaugh
Denver