A federal judge has allowed the reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado to move forward after representatives of the state’s cattle industry asked for a temporary stay in the predator’s release.
While the lawsuit will continue, the judge’s ruling allows Colorado to proceed with its plan to find, capture and transport up to 10 wolves from Oregon. The deadline to for reintroduction under the voter approved initiative is December 31st.
The lawsuit from the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and the Gunnison County Stockgrowers’ Association alleges that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to adequately review the potential impacts of Colorado’s plan to release up to 50 wolves over the next several years.
Gray wolves were exterminated across most of the U.S. by the 1930’s under government sponsored poisoning and trapping campaigns.
