Co Farm Bureau Against Wolf Initiative
The Colorado Farm Bureau says it is already working to defeat a proposed initiative allowing the introduction of wolves into the state. The initiative hasn’t been certified yet.
Shawn Martini Vice President of Advocacy of the CFB says a group of environmentalists are gathering citizen signatures with the aim of putting a measure to introduce gray wolves on the 2020 ballot. A move he says would be bad for the state.
Martini: “We are, not surprisingly, opposed to that. It’s been done in other states and that’s part of the reasoning that the proponents are seeking to do it here in Colorado. We remain skeptical that you can introduce wolves into Colorado and not create significant problems. Not only to our way of life here in the state which is based on outdoor recreations but also on livestock production in the western part of the state and to the ecosystem. Colorado is home to a number of endangered species that could be potentially be preyed upon by an apex predatory like the Canadian gray wolf. So we’re skeptical that these kinds of decisions should be put in the hands of voters through a ballot initiative.
The Rocky Mountain Wolf Action Fund which is behind the petition says safely restoring wolves to their home in Western Colorado would restore the gray wolf's historic range from the High Arctic to Mexico.
Signatures for this initiative are due on December 13th
