The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted 10 - 1 to continue wolf reintroduction in the state. Last year, a petition was filed asking CPW to stop releasing wolves until several changes are made.

The request to temporarily halt the program came as another 10-15 wolves are set to be released in the coming weeks on the Western Slope.

Colorado began reintroducing wolves to the state in 2023, following a ballot initiative calling for the wolves, who were wiped out of Colorado in the 1940s. An initial introduction of 10 wolves to the western part of the state led to a number of cattle deaths, causing outcry from ranchers.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission denied a petition from livestock advocates that sought to suspend the state’s voter-mandated gray wolf restoration program ahead of the program’s second winter “release season.

A petition asked Colorado Parks and Wildlife to hold off releasing more wolves until the state fully implements programs meant to protect livestock.

Rather than pausing the program, CPW agreed to add several new layers, including a range rider program and a chronic depredation definition for wolves preying on livestock.

Colorado's wolf reintroduction will continue on schedule after the CPW Commission voted 10-1 to accept CPW's recommendation to deny a petition from ranchers to pause the reintroduction program.