Ballot Box Biology is not the same a science.

The goal of this article is to help educate you on the idea of wolf reintroduction in Colorado and if you live in Colorado to urge you to VOTE NO on Colorado PROP 114. The promise I will make is that all of the following information is based on sound science with sources cited. The North American Model of Wildlife is not intended to be determined by our emotions but by what our experts and wildlife biologist determine is the best course of action for the future ecology of our ecosystem

A passionate and compassionate group of humans are attempting to convince you to support the reintroduction of wolves into Colorado’s ecosystem. Unfortunately although their heart is in the right place their scientific reasoning is not. The thing that makes a conversation about wolves difficult is that they are beautiful and remind us of man’s best friend. That being said the hard truth is that just because we like them (or the thought of them) it doesn’t make for sound ecological management.

Some of you may remember the popular story “How wolves change rivers'' released in February 2014 (now with over 42 Million Views). As touching and seemingly logical as this video was it didn’t tell the truth, at least the whole truth that is. The general idea of ‘how wolves change rivers’ is that wolf reintroduction led to a decrease in the elk population which led to an increase in willow growth which enabled beavers to build dams that were beneficial for the Yellowstone Ecosystem.

According to Colorado State University's Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory professor Tom Hobbs "It's a lovely story, and I would love this to be true, but it isn't," Hobbs said. "[The video] is demonstratively false." In his research papers Hobbs lays out that yes wolf introduction will knock down ungulet population but that alone is not enough to change the speed of a flowing river. Elk do browse on willows and wolves do eat elk but beavers are the missing link. Beavers need a slow moving stream in order to build dams (out of willow trunks and other trees) in the first place. The trophic cascade in this ecosystem can't simply be reversed.

Hobbs also said there is no dispute among scientists that removing the wolf from Yellowstone had vast ecological impacts on the park, but there is a "disagreement on what happens when you put it back." Ultimately his research indicates that wolves have had very little impact on willow growth since their 1995 reintroduction.

Arguments against reintroduction:

The Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus) is no longer considered to be threatened as is in the process of being removed from the federal Endangered Species List (ESL) however the Mexican Gray Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) a smaller species of wolf native to Arizona, New Mexico and Northern Mexico has been on the Endagered Species List since 1976. A legitimate worry of wildlife biologists is that if the Gray Wolf is reintroudcued into Colorado there is a likelyhood that it will eventually outcompete the currently endangered Mexican Gray Wolf.
There have been multiple wolf sightings in Colorado including in 2019 and 2020. Some, like CPW, feel if wolves are going to successfully reestablish in Colorado it should happen naturally.
Wildlife officials are apprehensive about wolf reintroduction
Many cattle and livestock ranchers feel wolf reintroduction is a threat to their livelyhod and livestock kills will have to be remimbursed by the taxpayer.
Huners and anglers who contribute over $3,000,000,000 (3 BIllion) annually to the state provide a huge source of economic support in the state for conservation and wildlife and do not want to see Elk, Deer and Moose populations negatively impacted by wolf reintroduction
Wolves would be a source of competition for Black Bear, Mountain Lions and Foxes which already play a critical role in the ecological balance of the state.
Groups Opposed to Reintroduction:

Arguments for reintroduction:

Colorado is a part of the Gray Wolf’s (Canis lupus) historical range up until their eradication in 1940.
Groups for reintroduction:
- The Rocky Mountain Wolf Action Fund

In Conclusion:

Please Vote “NO” on prop 114: Gray Wolf Reintroduction Initiative