DENVER (AP) — The Colorado cattle industry association filed a lawsuit Monday against state and federal agencies over the reintroduction of gray wolves just weeks away from the predators' release.
The Gunnison County Stockgrowers’ Association and the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association say that U.S. Fish and Wildlife failed to adequately review the environmental effects of the plan to reintroduce up to 50 wolves over the next several years.
The predators’ release in Colorado, voted for in a 2020 ballot measure, has already stirred controversy and sharpened divides between rural and urban residents.
WildEarth Guardians, a conservation group that supports the reintroduction plan, called the lawsuit "flimsy."
Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced last week that it's on track to release the wolves before Dec. 31. It's unclear how or if this lawsuit will impact that timeline.
The exact date and location for the wolves' release is not publicly available, however CPW said it will likely be within the northern circle in the map below, which was published in the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan released in May.
