House Republicans Oppose Gray Wolf Reintroduction, Defend Rural Communities

(Denver, CO - January 14, 2025) -- Representatives Ty Winter, Matt Soper, Lori Garcia Sander, Dusty Johnson, Larry Don Suckla, and Christopher Richardson voiced strong opposition to the state’s second wave of gray wolf reintroduction, emphasizing the need to protect rural communities and ranchers from the harmful impacts of the program. Wildlife officials began capturing wolves in British Columbia on Friday for release in Colorado despite significant concerns raised by rural leaders and ranchers.

Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter criticized the state wildlife commission’s decision to deny ranchers’ petition to pause the program. “The voices of rural Coloradans and ranching families are being ignored,” Winter said. “These communities bear the burden of wolf depredation, yet their requests for relief and proper compensation is up in the air due to budget constraints. This administration continues to overlook the very people who feed our state.”

Representative Larry Don Suckla, a rancher in HD 58, highlighted the economic and emotional toll on ranching families. “This reintroduction program is creating havoc in our rural communities,” Suckla stated. “Ranchers are losing livestock, families are losing income, and the state’s response has been inadequate at best. We need leadership that listens to those on the front lines.”

Representative Lori Garcia Sander echoed these concerns and called for greater consideration of rural livelihoods. “The state must prioritize the well-being of Colorado families and small businesses,” Garcia Sander said. “This program has caused significant challenges for ranchers who already face rising costs and shrinking margins. Their concerns cannot be dismissed.”

Republicans also noted that Colorado is already grappling with an affordability crisis, and there are no guarantees that ranchers will receive compensation for the devastation caused by the previous wolf introduction. The financial strain on rural families continues to grow as costs rise and compensation remains uncertain.

The reintroduction program, initiated under Proposition 114, has faced backlash from rural communities due to incidents of livestock depredation and mounting compensation claims, which reached $580,000 in 2024. Republicans are urging the state to reassess the program to ensure equitable solutions that balance environmental goals with economic sustainability.