In a significant step for wildlife conservation, at the beginning of 2025, Colorado wildlife officials released 15 gray wolves from Canada into the central mountains as part of the state's historic, voter-mandated reintroduction program. This operation, conducted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), aims to restore the gray wolf to its native habitat, where it was once eradicated through hunting and poisoning. The release, which took place over the past week in Eagle and Pitkin counties, marks a crucial milestone in the effort to reestablish a self-sustaining wolf population in the state.
This reintroduction program, which began in December 2023 with the release of 10 wolves from Oregon, aligns with the will of Colorado’s voters, who approved the initiative in 2020. The state plans to release between 10 and 15 wolves annually for several years to ensure the population’s stability. The inclusion of wolves from Canada and the release of a mother wolf with her four pups further contribute to the biological success of the program, ensuring the transfer of vital survival skills to the next generation of wolves. These efforts are an important part of broader, continent-wide conservation strategies aimed at recovering endangered species and restoring ecosystems.
The ecological benefits of wolf reintroduction are already becoming evident. Wolves play a crucial role in maintaining balance within ecosystems by regulating populations of prey species, which in turn supports the growth of vegetation and helps preserve biodiversity. As apex predators, wolves help control herbivore populations, which can prevent overgrazing and promote healthier forests and grasslands. These ecological services benefit not only wildlife but also contribute to the overall health and resilience of the environment.
Experts in conservation biology emphasize the long-term importance of such initiatives. Joanna Lambert, a professor at the University of Colorado-Boulder, notes that Colorado's program is not just about the wolves themselves but about the larger effort to restore biodiversity and ecological function across North America. The reintroduction of the gray wolf to Colorado is thus a critical step in reversing the effects of past environmental degradation and fostering healthier, more resilient ecosystems.
Click here for the Japanese version.