Colorado lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill that would bring North American wolverines back to the state after more than 100 years.
Colorado's wolverine population went extinct in the early 1900s due to unregulated trapping and poisoning, according wildlife group Rocky Mountain Wild. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed wolverines as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in November, the group said.
“Bringing wolverines back will be a huge win for Colorado’s wildlife and wildlands,” said Stefan Ekernas, director of Colorado Field Conservation at Denver Zoo. “Denver Zoo supports reintroduction efforts for wolverines that proactively engage communities and stakeholders to unite Coloradoans in bringing this native species back home.”
SB24-171 would authorize Colorado Parks and Wildlife to start a multi-year reintroduction process that involves reviewing the agency's existing reintroduction plan addressing stakeholder concerns. It introduced by Sens. Perry Will (R) and Dylan Roberts (D), and Reps. Barbara McLachlan (D) and Tisha Mauro (D).
