The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission denied a petition from livestock advocates that sought to suspend the state’s voter-mandated gray wolf restoration program ahead of the program’s second winter “release season.

The request to temporarily halt the program came as another 10-15 wolves are set to be released in the coming weeks on the Western Slope.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted 10 - 1 to continue wolf reintroduction in the state. Last year, a petition was filed asking CPW to stop releasing wolves until several changes are made.

A petition asked Colorado Parks and Wildlife to hold off releasing more wolves until the state fully implements programs meant to protect livestock.

Colorado’s wolf reintroduction effort will continue as planned. At its Wednesday meeting, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission officially voted to deny a citizen petition requesting a pause of the initiative.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted on Wednesday to deny a Citizen’s petition to delay the release of wolves in Colorado.

Colorado began reintroducing wolves to the state in 2023, following a ballot initiative calling for the wolves, who were wiped out of Colorado in the 1940s. An initial introduction of 10 wolves to the western part of the state led to a number of cattle deaths, causing outcry from ranchers.

A group of livestock producers asked the state wildlife agency for a pause on future wolf releases, after wolves from a 2023 began preying on livestock.

Colorado's wolf reintroduction will continue on schedule after the CPW Commission voted 10-1 to accept CPW's recommendation to deny a petition from ranchers to pause the reintroduction program.