GRAND COUNTY, Colo. — Somewhere on a remote mountainside in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, a wolf was released into the wild and headed towards the treeline on a voter-approved plan. Wildlife officials have released five gray wolves into a remote area of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains to begin the reintroduction program. The plan was well received in urban areas and opposed in rural areas where ranchers feared attacks on their livestock.
The wolf was released from a crate in Grand County, and the project marks the most ambitious wolf reintroduction effort in the United States in nearly 30 years. The release of wolves has been temporarily postponed due to opposition from the state’s livestock industry.
The wolves were captured in Oregon and released in Colorado. After the releases, the crowd watched in silence as the wolves disappeared into the forest. Colorado officials expect to release 30 to 50 wolves within the next five years as part of the program.
The release of wolves in Colorado has become a political issue, deepening the divide between rural and urban residents. While urban and suburban areas largely vote in favor of reintroducing apex predators, rural residents are worried about the impact on livestock and big game animals.
To allay concerns in the livestock industry, ranchers whose livestock is preyed upon by wolves will be compensated with fair market value. Hunting groups are also expressing concerns about the impact of wolves on elk herds and other large game animals.
While some have celebrated the reintroduction of wolves, others are concerned about the potential conflicts that may arise due to the presence of wolves in the area. Joanna Lambert, a professor of wildlife ecology and conservation biology, described the release of the wolves as a “rewilding moment” to avoid the extinction of biodiversity.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
