U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting a review of Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program and has opened a public comment period to gather feedback on how the state has been addressing increasing conflicts between the newly established wolf population and livestock.
A notice regarding the public feedback opportunity was recently published in the Federal Register.
The publication states that while Fish and Wildlife isn’t proposing changes to its existing permit, it is seeking information on how the agency has been implementing its federal 10(j) rule.
First issued in 2023, the rule essentially authorizes Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to kill or remove gray wolves in specific circumstances, as the species is currently listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act and is therefore federally protected.
The federal review is specifically asking for feedback on how the agency collects several categories of information under the 10(j) rule, which ultimately informs decision-making.
The posting notes that the information is used “to assess the effectiveness of control activities and develop means to reduce problems with livestock where depredation is a problem” and “determine the success of reintroductions in relation to established recovery plan goals for the species involved.”
The first area of information collected on the “general take or removal” of wolves includes accidental killings, such as in vehicle collisions or translocation, along with wolves killed in defense of human life or property. The second category covers depredation and the authorized killing of wolves, while the third involves recovery and reporting of dead wolves within the state.
According to the notice, Fish and Wildlife is asking for comments on whether the outlined information collection is worthwhile and how it could be improved.
Fish and Wildlife will also be accepting input on conflict‑prevention efforts, improvements to the reintroduction program, the impact of wolves on the state’s wildlife — such as elk and moose — and addressing wolf presence on tribal lands.
The information will not only inform Colorado’s ongoing wolf reintroduction, but will also inform the agency’s understanding of reporting methods and practices for experimental populations in general.
The deadline for comments is set for May 11. To submit a comment, visit federalregister.gov/d/2026-04789.
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