Western Slope lawmakers introduce 3 bills to support ranchers as wolf reintroduction nears

[Pantheraman]

"Senate Bill 23-256 would deny wolf reintroduction until a ruling on the federal 10(j) rule is complete

• Colorado requested a 10(j) ruling under the Endangered Species Act and is awaiting a determination by the federal government. The state is hoping for a resolution by Dec. 15, just two weeks before wolves are mandated to be released.
• The 10(j) rule lists wolves as "experimental" and would allow more flexibility managing them, including lethal take of wolves in situations such as chronic depredation or wolves caught depredating livestock.
• If enacted, this bill would not allow reintroduction of wolves until a determination of the 10(j) rule is finalized.
• Because 10(j) rules have often in the past have been held up in court, that could delay wolf reintroduction past the end of this year.
• Visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb23-256 to read the bill.

Senate Bill 23-255 would secure funding for compensation to ranchers who lose livestock to wolves

• Ranchers with confirmed loss/injured livestock, including working cattle dogs, to the naturally migrating pack in North Park are being compensated through a variety of sources, excluding the sale of hunting and fishing license fees. To date, ranchers have been paid nearly $13,000.
• Proposition 114 included language that required livestock owners be fairly compensated for livestock losses to wolves but did not specify a funding source.
• If enacted, this bill would create a dedicated "wolf compensation fund" within the Colorado Department of Natural Resources.
• Starting in fiscal year 2023-24 and each fiscal year thereafter, $350,000 from the state's general fund would go to the compensation fund, with excess funds transferred to the wildlife cash fund.
• Visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb23-255 to read the bill.

House Bill 23-1265 would allow a portion of special license plates to fund ranchers' nonlethal means to defend livestock from wolves

• If enacted, this bill would authorize creation of a "Born to Be Wild" license plate for Coloradans to purchase.
• The license plates would cost $100 with a percentage of those funds directed to Colorado Parks and Wildlife to help ranchers defray costs of implementing nonlethal means to prevent wolf conflicts.
• Visit leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1265 to read the bill. "

3 bills aim to support Colorado ranchers as wolf reintroduction nears

An update on these bills: Pair of wolf bills wins approval from Colorado Senate committee