The Trump administration is threatening Colorado with a possible takeover of its gray wolf reintroduction program, prompting state wildlife officials to offer both a stout defense and an open invitation.
In a double-barrel blast of warnings and ultimatums, Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have taken aim at Colorado Parks and Wildlife and its management of the program, which has been lambasted by ranchers who say the released wolves are a threat to their livelihoods.
The federal officials’ message is blunt: Fix the program or forfeit control.
“Colorado is prioritizing WOLVES over American ranchers!” Burgum stated in a Dec. 18 post on the X social media site, adding that “this is a warning: if Colorado does not get control of the wolves immediately, we will!”
