HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformation Only 20250211AGENDA
INFORMATION UPDATE
February 11, 2025
5:00 PM,
I.Information Update
I.A Information Only Memo: Wolf Reintroduction in the Roaring Fork Valley
250131 Wolf Reintroduction Memo.docx
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INFORMATION ONLY MEMORANDUM
TO:Aspen City Council
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FROM:Lara Xaiz, Wildlife Coordinator
Shelly Braudis, Natural Resource Manager
THROUGH:John Spiess, Open Space and Natural Resource Manager
Matt Kuhn, Parks and Open Space Director
MEMO DATE:February 3rd, 2025
RE: Wolf Reintroduction in the Roaring Fork Valley
PURPOSE:
This memorandum is to provide information on CPW’s recent release of wolves in the
Roaring Fork Valley.
No action is requested of Council.
SUMMARY:
Proposition 114, now state statute 32-2-105.8, passed on November 3, 2020. It directed
the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to develop the Colorado Gray Wolf
Restoration and Management Plan as a framework to introduce and manage gray wolves
in Colorado, west of the Continental Divide. All releases will be on state owned land or on
privately held land. Any released on federal land would require extensive environmental
review.
The gray wolf is native to Colorado but was eradicated from the state by the mid-1940s.
Over the past few decades a few lone wolves have made it to Colorado, with groups of
up to six wolves being confirmed in Moffat County in 2020. Between December 18-21,
2023, CPW captured 10 gray wolves in Oregon and released them onto public land in
Summit and Grand Counties. Of these released wolves, 2 joined together as a breeding
pair and produced 5 pups; they are known as the Copper Creek pack.
DISCUSSION:
Gray wolves are currently listed as Federally Endangered, Federally Threatened, State
Endangered, State Threatened, and State Special concern. On January 18, CPW
completed capture and release work for the second gray wolf reintroduction season.
Fifteen wolves were translocated from the central interior of British Columbia to Colorado.
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Separately, CPW also successfully completed the release of five members of the Copper
Creek Pack. All wolves were released in Eagle and Pitkin Counties. No further releases
are planned for the 2024-2025 capture season. This is the second of three to five
release seasons of wolves.
The City of Aspen’s Wildlife Coordinator has assisted and will continue to assist CPW in
education and outreach to the community on best practices for living with wolves. The
Wildlife Coordinator position was approved and budgeted in 2024. The benefits of this
position continue to be realized, especially as this position works closely with CPW and
the community on this and other key wildlife issues. Wolf education and outreach
campaigns have been ongoing with CPW hosting several meetings across the state to
educate residents on the wolf reintroduction program. CPW hosted two meetings in
Aspen at the Pitkin County Library. One on December 19, 2024, to educate the public
and producers on wolves and how to effectively handle potential encounters with wolves.
The other meeting was held on January 7, 2025. During this meeting, CPW discussed
the reintroduction program and living with wolves.
CPW will respond to reports of livestock depredation, track and document wolf numbers,
monitor wolf movement throughout the state, and remove wolves if deemed necessary.
The Wildlife Coordinator will communicate any reports or observations of wolf activity in
Aspen to CPW. If a wolf is determined to be habituated to humans, CPW will remove that
wolf. The goal is to keep wolves wild and fearful of humans and human activity.
Wolves will disperse from the release site. These wolves will travel alone until they find a
mate and state the breeding process. It is possible we will have lone wolves traveling
through our area as they search for a mate and a territory. Is it also possible that we could
have a breeding pair settle somewhere around Aspen and form a pack. Once packs are
formed the wolves are easier to manage. They don’t travel far from the pups while they
are in a den and then tend to establish territories and defend them against other packs or
lone wolves. Once wolves form packs, they are more likely to hunt large game. As lone
wolves they often prey on young ungulates, as they are not equipped to take down large
ungulates on their own. They also prey on small animals like turkeys, mice and rabbits.
Our community has been living with apex predators for a very long time. Many similarities
exist between living with bears, mountain lions and wolves. It is very rare for wolves to
cause a direct threat to humans. To reduce the likelihood of an encounter, or of an
encounter turning into an attack, general alertness of surroundings is highly
recommended. Keeping dogs leashed is a very important aspect of living with predators.
NEXT STEPS:
No action is requested of Council.
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ATTACHMENTS & LINKS:
Video from January 7, 2025 meeting at the Pitkin County Library. CPW speaks to the
reintroduction process and factors considered for relocation sites:WildLives Colorado |
Pitkin County, CO
Bringing Wolves Back to Colorado | Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Information about Gray Wolves-Gray Wolf | Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Updated Wolf Tracking Maps-Wolf Sightings | Colorado Parks and Wildlife
CITY MANAGER NOTES:
Please contact the City Manager if there are questions or follow up needed regarding
the information provided.
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