KDVR – Colorado voters have agreed to the wolf re -introduction plan in 2020, but since then, the costs – controversy – only.
On Monday, Governor Jared Police signed the latest state budget, which includes financing to continue the wolf re -introduction program – but also adds new guidelines aimed at better protecting livestock breeders.
It has been placed inside the budget new money for the wolf program, but legislators now say that future financing will come with stronger controls.
“How do we put the handrails in this program, and how do we make sure that it is sufficiently funded, and how do we make sure that things do not go out of control as they started last year?” Senator Dylan Roberts said.
It was originally expected to cost a wolf re -introduction of about $ 800,000 a year. However, the actual costs have risen to two million dollars, many of which tend to compensate for livestock breeders for livestock losses.
“I think the amount of criticism, and the amount of killing of the livestock we have seen by wolves over the past two years, was much more than anyone expected,” said Roberts.
The newly signed budget also includes a footnote that requires the state to take active steps to prevent future livestock attacks.
Roberts said: “Colorado Parks and wildlife need to do the seven things they adhered to at their meeting in January to help reduce the wolf reactions to the nation, to make sure that there are domain passengers, to ensure that societies are listened to,” Roberts said.
Livestock boots say they are optimistic that the additional requirements will help.
“I am pleased to see this has passed, and I mean, I hope that before the next round, all these programs that we requested and all these seven things are already working,” said Tim Richard, president of the Middlepark. “People do not understand the influence of wolves until they are affected.”
While livestock breeders are pushing for more guarantees, conservation groups remind the public why the wolves were re -presented in the first place.
“Wolves, not only majestic and intelligent, but also important to lead our ecological systems, and we have noticed that when wolves are restored to ecosystems such as Yeloston, for example, they are preparing for a series of events that help everything from willow and hymns, to Songraghisz,” said Allisonnerson with the center of biological diversity.
Currently, the state is moving forward – but the future of wolves in Colorado may depend on politics as much as it depends on nature.
“I understand that the voters voted for this in 2020 with a very narrow margin, but it is largely a vote by the front range that will never see wolves, they will never have to deal with the influence of wolves, and while there may be some broader ecosystems, in the long run, the short consequences and pain that we feel were very negative.”
The changes come just as livestock breeders are preparing through Colorado for the summer grazing season. Gray wolves are currently in the mating season.