How Oregon wolves affect prey and plants in Colorado after reintroduction a year ago

From OregonLive.com:

By Joanna Lambert, Professor of Environmental Studies and Faculty in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder

Gray wolves from Oregon were reintroduced to Colorado in December 2023, the latest attempt in a decadeslong effort to build up wolf populations in the Rocky Mountain states. SciLine interviewed Joanna Lambert, professor of wildlife ecology and director of the American Canid Project at the University of Colorado Boulder, who discussed how and why gray wolf populations declined in the U.S. and the value of reintroducing them to ecosystems in the West.

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Wyoming Wolf Killed by Snowmobile Prompts “Clean Kill Bill”

From MontanaOutdoor.com:

In response to a widely condemned incident in Daniel, Wyoming, where a wolf was reportedly tortured after being run over with a snowmobile, a coalition of Wyoming hunters is advocating for the “Clean Kill Bill.”

The proposed legislation aims to establish felony penalties for individuals who intentionally torture wildlife in Wyoming. The initiative is led by Wyoming Sportsmanship, a newly formed group including prominent figures such as outdoorsman Paul Ulrich, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kite, and Muley Fanatic Foundation President Josh Coursey.

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Alaska to resume ‘barbaric’ shooting of bears and wolves from helicopters

From The Guardian:

Alaska is set to resume the aerial gunning of bears and wolves as a population control measure aimed at boosting caribou and moose herd numbers, even as the state’s own evaluation of the practice cast doubt on its effectiveness.

The renewed program would allow hunters to eliminate up to 80% of the animals on 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares) of state land. Environmental groups opposed to what they label a “barbaric” practice of shooting wildlife from helicopters is more about sport than scientific practice in part because hunters want caribou populations to increase because they are trophy animals.

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Endangered Indian grey wolf gives birth to eight pups in Karnataka’s first Wolf Sanctuary

From TheHindu.com:

A wolf has given birth to eight pups at the Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary in Koppal district recently. Announcing the birth of the pups, Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre on Sunday said that due to the enhanced safety measures implemented by the Karnataka Forest Department, the endangered Indian wolves are thriving freely at the Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary.

Misinformation fiasco drives suspected wolf poachers to Pitkin County ranch

From The Aspen Times:

A storm of wolf-release misinformation struck the Western Slope over the past three weeks, culminating in an erroneous article claiming a batch of wolves was released on a Pitkin County ranch.

Colorado Politics published “First batch of Canadian wolves released on private land in Colorado’s Pitkin County, sources say,” on Tuesday, naming the family members of the ranch, according to a Lost Marbles Ranch owner.

The owner wished to remain anonymous.

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The paradox of balancing conservation efforts for Himalayan wolves and snow leopards (commentary)

From News.Mongabay.com:

Although snow leopards cause greater livestock losses than Himalayan wolves, human communities generally show greater tolerance and acceptance toward snow leopards. This ‘predator paradox,’ where the more damaging predator is more tolerated, leads to less conservation support for wolves and more for snow leopards.

“Both snow leopards and wolves are crucial to the Himalayan ecosystem, but conservation has overwhelmingly favored snow leopards. This disparity in attention and resources amplifies the challenges faced by wolves, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to conserve both species effectively,” a new op-ed argues.

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Wolf news to watch in 2025

From Rocky Mountain PBS:

DENVER — A call to quell emotions during the four-and-a-half hour public comment period during a recent Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission meeting did not work. During the meeting’s public comment portion, nearly 75 people gave personal pleas regarding wolf reintroduction. Commissioners denied a petition filed by 26 Colorado organizations to delay efforts to bring more gray wolves to the state, allowing CPW staff to carry out their plan to introduce up to 15 new wolves to Colorado this month.
But the fight over wolves is far from over. Here are six things to watch in 2025 related to wolves in Colorado.

Mystery surrounds gunshot death of Colorado wolf; agencies refusing to answer questions

From The Coloradoan:

Mystery continues to shroud the circumstances of how Colorado’s reintroduced wolf 2309 died, prompting wide speculation from the public and many unanswered questions from state and federal wildlife agencies.

Speculation of wolf 2309’s death swirls as Colorado’s imminent next round of reintroduced wolves continues under a cloak of secrecy with Colorado Parks and Wildlife stating threats of safety to its staff and wolves are a concern at a legislative hearing Wednesday.

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Wolf protection reduced in Europe. Is biodiversity at stake?

From EuroNews.com:

The wolf is no longer a “strictly protected species” in Europe.

In December, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention voted to downgrade its status, accepting a controversial EU proposal. A proposal in fact supported by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after a wolf killed her pony in 2022.

The wolf remains a “protected species”, but Member States will now have more flexibility to cull it. Farmers have long been calling for less stringent rules on culling. For the environmental associations, however, this is a blow to biodiversity, with no scientific basis.

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Iron Range hunter charged with killing wolf

From DuluthNewsTribune.com:

GRAND RAPIDS — A man allegedly admitted to killing a federally protected wolf at his deer stand near Calumet, among other hunting violations.
Steven Robert Pavich, 63, of Ceylon, Minnesota, reportedly told a conservation officer in November that he has his “own opinion on wolves” and simply wanted the animal “out of there,” according to charges filed earlier this month.

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