The Colorado General Assembly is facing a budget shortfall for the 2025-26 budget and is considering cutting funding for the wolf reintroduction program to cover the gap. This has caused pushback from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, who are now omitting crucial portions of the law in an attempt to secure funding for the program. Lawmakers are debating whether to fund the program or save $2.1 million in general fund dollars annually. The agency is under scrutiny for omitting parts of the statute that mandated the wolf reintroduction deadline by the end of 2023.
The wolf depredation compensation fund was also discussed as a potential area for cuts, but lawmakers quickly rejected the idea. There are concerns about the indirect costs associated with wolf depredation, as ranchers are reporting that current compensation payments are insufficient. Only two claims for lost livestock have been paid out by the state this year.
Despite these financial challenges, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is working to address concerns raised by agricultural operations with regards to the wolf program. JBC Chair Sen. Jeff Bridges has expressed doubts about the program’s effectiveness and the negative signals sent by the governor’s veto of a bill related to federal compliance. Lawmakers are prioritizing funding for programs for low-income Coloradans over the wolf reintroduction program due to the controversy and questions surrounding its implementation. Davis and Gibbs are open to answering any questions that lawmakers may have about the program.
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