Local conservation fight back against gray wolf delistment

The federal government is considering a request from the United States Secretary of the Interior to remove the Gray Wolf from the endangered species list.

David Bernhardt said in his proposal this week, the wolf’s population has replenished, but animal conservationists disagree, saying the species still needs protection.

In Divide, Colorado the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center holds 16 Gray Wolves. Darlene Kobobel, CEO OF the center says that’s not the case.

“Part of our job along with zoos and other sanctuaries, wildlife sanctuaries and other wildlife organizations, we’re fighting to try to the job that some of these government agencies should be doing,” Kobobel says.

Gray Wolves in the lower 48 of the United States are on the Endangered Species list. If the proposal to remove them passes, protection for wolves is left up to individual states.

In some cases, that means they have the potential be hunted by ranchers who have claimed they’re killing their cattle. Kobobel argues it’s not the right decision.

“Some people may think, oh delisting is great because that means there are plenty of them out there. That’s not the truth,” she says.

The federal government tried for a similar proposal back in 2013, but it ultimately failed.

It could be weeks before the proposal is decided on, but in the meantime, conservationists like hope Gray Wolves aren’t taken for granted.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says there are no wild Gray Wolves in Colorado. They can only be seen in a zoo or conversation centers.