Could Colorado Lose Control of Wolf Reintroduction?

Could Colorado officials be at risk of losing control of the state's wolf reintroduction program? According to Denver7, it is a possibility.  Numerous noncompliance issues could result in a federal takeover of Colorado Parks and Wildlife by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Federal Letter Raises Compliance Concerns

A letter was sent to Colorado Parks and Wildlife from the federal government on December 19, 2025, stating it will make moves to take over the gray wolf reintroduction plan in the state of Colorado unless it addresses compliance issues. 

Two particular instances of noncompliance were noted. The first was the relocation of gray wolves from British Columbia in January 2025, violating the alleged rule that Colorado was only permitted to translocate wolves from Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and North-central Utah, but not from Alaska or Canada.

READ MORE: Colorado’s Gray Wolf Reintroduction Explained

The second instance of noncompliance was when a wolf traveled into New Mexico and was returned to the state of Colorado. The wolf from the Copper Creek pack wandered into New Mexico and was recaptured and released back to Grand County, Colorado, in early December 2025.

What Federal Officials Are Requesting

United States Fish and Wildlife Services director, Brian Nesvik, says the two actions are "contrary to the terms of the rule," and has requested a timeline of events within the Colorado Gray Wolf reintroduction program from December 12, 2023, to the present day, plus a summary of the January 2025 wolf release and the release of the wold back into Grand County.

READ MORE: Latest Updates From Colorado Parks and Wildlife

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service gave Colorado Parks and Wildlife 30 days to comply with the information request. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has said that if the agency is removed from the list, it would revoke the authority to manage wolves as outlined in the Memorandum of Agreement between the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.