Colorado Governor Polis Blames Cost of Wolf Program on Ranchers

Polis seemed to scapegoat ranchers for his pet project ballooning into a multi-million dollar burden on taxpayers. "We probably could have done it for a quarter of that cost."

At a meeting earlier this month, Colorado Governor Jared Polis made several remarks blaming ranchers for the expense of his controversial wolf introduction program.

During the winter conference of Colorado counties, Polis made mention of the state’s increasingly restrictive budget. Economists project a $1 billion shortfall in the 2025-26 budget.

Commissioner Merrit Linke from Grand County pointed out the discrepancy of spending $5 million on 10 wolves from Oregon, only 7 of which are still alive, while planning budget cuts for roads and education. Colorado still plans to bring in 10-15 more wolves from Canada.

“Why couldn't we take a pause and figure out what's the most cost effective way to do that before we do it? I'm just asking why can't we take a pause?” Linke said. The audience of livestock growers applauded.

Governor Polis responded, “It's the law.”

“We'll be successful with wolf restoration,” he said, according to Colorado Politics. “Until the law changes, that's what we do, and we're going to get it done. Once the law is done, you just got to get on board and make it successful.”

Proposition 114 succeeded on a razor thin margin, carried by urban voters against the fervent opposition of ranchers in the state. Livestock growers pointed out that the legislation only requires wolf introduction through the end of 2023 with no mandate beyond that deadline.

Polis then appeared to blame ranchers and agricultural groups for the cost of the program. Responding to concerns from ranchers, states like Wyoming and Idaho refused to send wolves for the introduction program. Eventually wildlife officials got wolves from Oregon.

Polis said ranchers should have asked Wyoming for wolves; if they had done so, the state may have complied.

“We probably could have done it for a quarter of that cost.”

Ranchers in Colorado have experienced livestock losses and harassment from these predators. Polis scapegoating ranchers for the cost of his pet project that has turned into a ballooning multi-million dollar taxpayer burden while castigating them for not helping him implement a program that endangers their livelihood and that they vehemently opposed, is, to put it mildly, rich.

Republican lawmakers from rural parts of the state have since excoriated Polis for his remarks.

“The governor’s comments to Colorado Counties deflect responsibility for mismanagement and misrepresentation of costs onto hardworking ranchers, whose livelihoods are already at risk due to these policies,” said eight rural Republican lawmakers in a statement.

Since wolves were introduced in Colorado last December, they have been responsible for dozens of livestock deaths as well as the deaths of numerous working ranch and farm dogs. Ranchers say compensation through the state fund for predator kills has been extremely slow with numerous denials.

A coalition of ranching and other agricultural groups has requested a hearing with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission and the Canadian government with the goal of pausing the next wolf introduction. This coalition includes 26 groups. The Colorado Conservation Alliance has made the same request.

Meanwhile, almost all Western states that have wolf populations are now refusing to cooperate with the Colorado wolf program, resulting in Colorado requesting wolves from British Columbia.