Call To Action! Urge Colorado Senators To Vote No On Bill That Would Delay Wolf Reintroduction To Colorado By Six Years

The Colorado Senate is expected to vote on Senate Bill 23-256 as soon as tomorrow that could delay wolf reintroduction and restoration in the state by at least six years. In response to the legislation, wildlife advocates and conservationists have sent a letter to members of the Colorado Senate outlining major concerns.

Experts in wildlife policy and the Endangered Species Act explain that the legislation, if signed into law, would delay wolf reintroductions until at least 2029 and could also invite frivolous lawsuits as further delay tactics. This would nullify the will of the Colorado voters who voted to have wolves reintroduced to the state by the end of 2023.

Currently, in collaboration with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working to write a 10(j) management rule for gray wolves in Colorado which would allow significant management of the federally listed species by the state agency. The rule is scheduled to be finalized prior to wolf releases at the end of the year.

“SB23-256 attempts to postpone, perhaps indefinitely, the reintroduction of gray wolves to Colorado, and in doing so, not only denies the votes of Coloradans –- but also undermines, delays, and inhibits an important tool – gray wolves – for mitigating the causes and consequences of climate warming in Colorado,” said Delia Malone, wildlife chair of the Colorado Sierra Club.

“By delaying the reintroduction of wolves, we risk further imbalances in the ecosystem, including overpopulation of prey species and damage to vegetation, which can ultimately impact other wildlife and human communities. Once again, the Endangered Species Act is being undermined by a small anti-wolf group and infringing upon the rights of the majority,” said Leslie Williams and Samantha Attwood, founding members of The #RelistWolves Campaign.

“We applaud the wildlife conservation organizations that are standing together to oppose this legislation and will continue to fight alongside these groups, demanding that the Colorado Senate reject SB23-256 and honor the will of the people by supporting the reintroduction of gray wolves to Colorado,” continued Williams and Attwood.

Last week, SB23-256 passed the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee with two of the bill’s co-sponsors voting against the bill. It is slated to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee at the next meeting.

The Colorado Senate is expected to vote on the bill as soon as tomorrow, which could delay wolf reintroduction. Please call today and urge your state senators to vote “NO” on SB-256! Find your senators HERE!

“With your support we can ensure that wolves will be returned to Colorado as the law requires and as voters mandated—by the end of 2023,” said Lindsay Larris, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians.

You can also TAKE ACTION by asking your representatives to put pressure on Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and President Biden to #RelistWolves, HERE!