The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday published the decision, which designates gray wolves as a “nonessential experimental population.”

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Author: Jennifer Campbell-Hicks

Published: 1:39 PM MST November 7, 2023

Updated: 1:39 PM MST November 7, 2023

 https://www.9news.com/article/life/animals/colorado-wolf-reintroduction-us-fish-wildlife-rule-finalized/73-068db520-a2f8-45ef-8961-ba7c34b601e7

DENVER — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) finalized a rule Tuesday that gives the state of Colorado authority to create its own rules for gray wolf management, including when someone would be allowed to kill a wolf.

The final 10(j) rule, which designates new gray wolves as a “nonessential experimental population, will go into effect Dec. 8. Colorado Parks and Wildlife intends to reintroduce wolves to the state by Dec. 31, because of a 2020 ballot proposition.

“Big news for our Colorado wolf reintroduction efforts,” CPW said on Twitter. “10j gives us gray wolf management flexibility, so we are on schedule to have wolves on the ground by 12/31/23.”

> The video above aired Sept. 15: Colorado will get to create rules for when people can kill grey wolves

This designation was sought after by ranchers. Anticipating receiving the 10(j) rule, the state’s management plan already sets conditions for when people could kill wolves. For example, the state intends to issue permits for ranchers to kill a wolf if they catch one actively trying to kill livestock.

USFWS said this rule does not apply to wolves already in Colorado because the wolves do not currently meet the criteria to be considered a population. The 10(j) will apply to the wolves the state plans to reintroduce later this year.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis previously vetoed a bill that would have required the rule to be in place before wolves get reintroduced.

Without this designation, the only scenario where a person could legally kill a wolf would be to save human life. That’s because gray wolves are federally listed as an endangered species.

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado, released a statement praising the designation.

“This final rule respects the will of Colorado voters, farmers, ranchers and conservationists, and sets our state up for responsible gray wolf reintroduction,” Hickenlooper said.

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