Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) Responds to CPW Decision Not to Release Wolves This Season

PRESS RELEASE - The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) acknowledges Wednesday’s announcement from Colorado Parks and Wildlife that no additional wolves will be released in Colorado this season.

CCA views this decision as a constructive step that reflects the need for the state to pause and address the ongoing concerns raised by livestock producers and rural communities. Listening to those most directly affected is essential as Colorado continues to navigate wolf management.

However, the absence of releases this season does not eliminate the challenges producers face today. Wolves remain on the landscape, and livestock producers continue to experience real and ongoing impacts.

During this interim period, CCA urges the state to focus on practical, producer-driven solutions, including:

Clear and workable lethal take authority when livestock are threatened or attacked

Timely, fair, and comprehensive compensation for confirmed and probable livestock losses

Continued direct engagement with producers to address conflicts, management gaps, and on-the-ground realities

“A pause in releases must not mean a pause in action,” said Curt Russell, President of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. “Producers are living with wolves today, and effective management tools, compensation, and responsiveness from the state are critical during this period.”

CCA stands behind the continued need for strong U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversight of the current program to ensure all requirements and commitments outlined in the MOA are fully met. The Association remains committed to working with state agencies, policymakers, and stakeholders to ensure wolf management policies protect livestock producers, respect private property rights, and reflect the realities of agriculture on the ground.