Colorado petition asks for pause in wolf releases [Video]

DENVER — A group of Colorado agricultural and livestock producers hope to delay any more wolf introductions.

Twenty-six organizations filed a formal petition with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission seeking a new rule to delay introductions “until Colorado’s wolf management program can adequately address the conflicts between wolves and livestock producers.”

CPW plans to capture up to 15 wolves in British Columbia and release them in Colorado this winter. CPW also currently has five wolves in captivity that its employees removed from the wild. CPW could release all five of those wolves back into the wild.

“The requested rule changes aim to ensure that CPW is equipped to manage wolf depredation and provide livestock producers with the necessary tools and resources before any wolves are put on the ground,” states a news release from the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association.

“Could there be …