DENVER — The Colorado Cattlemen's Association and Gunnison County Stockgrowers' Association filed a federal lawsuit Monday seeking to delay and stop grey wolf reintroduction in Colorado.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) staffers are on the verge of heading to Oregon to capture wolves for reintroduction. A CPW spokesperson will not tell 9NEWS when staff plans to go, but an aircraft company CPW hired told 9NEWS the job begins Monday, December 17.
The plaintiffs want a federal court to issue an injunction to immediately stop the reintroduction efforts.
The organizations are suing CPW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), asking for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to be enforced to prevent wolves' release. The plaintiffs want USFWS to be forced to prepare an environmental impact statement, which they argue NEPA requires, and do not want wolves released unless, or until such a study happens.
"The reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado will cause significant adverse impacts to the properties, businesses, and vested interests of CCA and its members," the lawsuit asserted.
"CPW is currently reviewing the lawsuit with our legal counsel and have no further comment at this time," a spokesperson told 9NEWS.
In 2020, a slim majority of Coloradans voted to reintroduce grey wolves. How people voted will be part of where wolves get released. For the first year, CPW plans to release wolves in Summit, Eagle, and Grand counties.
"The presence of wolves negatively impacts the livestock and other industries by increasing costs and decreasing local spending, impacting many businesses and communities," the lawsuit argues.
The lawsuit argues the federal government did not adequately consider environmental consequences of grey wolf reintroduction in Colorado, when USFWS gave the state additional management authority.
The lawsuit asks a judge to stop the reintroduction efforts immediately.
"If CPW is allowed to release wolves in Colorado before FWS complies with NEPA, this will irrevocably change the status quo and irreparably harm Plaintiffs and their members for the reasons stated herein," the lawsuit states.
9NEWS has reached out to CPW for comment.