Lauren Boebert issues wolf warning to Colorado hunters

Lauren Boebert issued a stern warning as gray wolves re-entered Colorado’s Rockies earlier this week, with her office claiming they could “threaten livestock, sheepdogs and even hunters in the region.” and hikers,” and said the decision was made to “invite radical environmental groups.”

In 2020, voters narrowly approved a plan to reintroduce wolves to Colorado as part of Proposition 114, with approval ratings of 50.91% and 49.09%. Ranchers will receive up to $15,000 for each animal killed by wolves, although both the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and the Gunnison County Cattlemen’s Association have urged a delay in the payment date.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife released five wolves, two females and three males, on Monday, a move welcomed by the state’s Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, who said the program was “just getting started,” The animals will “rejoin a diverse ecosystem.”

However, Boebert, who represents Team Colorado 3^RD House congressional districts slammed the plan on X (formerly Twitter). “Today, Colorado became the first state in the United States to reintroduce gray wolves, despite strong opposition to the measure across rural America,” the Republican firebrand wrote. “This ill-advised decision puts ranchers and farmers’ livestock at risk .

“We should not give in to radical environmental groups when our ranchers and farmers say this is bad for Colorado.”

This position was expanded on in a statement sent to: Weekly newspaper Boebert’s office highlighted what they said were threats to working dogs and even humans.

Republican Press Secretary Anthony Fakhoury commented, “Congresswoman Boebert has been meeting with Colorado ranchers and farmers for years to learn more about the challenges they face. One of the biggest challenges they face is dealing with threats to livestock and Collie wolf.

“For years, ranchers and farmers had no defense against these wolves because they were on the endangered species list. Now, they have been reintroduced and are once again threatening the region’s livestock, sheepdogs, and even hunters and hikers. This is A bad decision made to please radical environmental groups.”

Weekly newspaper Colorado Parks and Wildlife was contacted via phone and online contact form to inquire about the level of threat to dogs and humans.

Gray or timber wolves once ranged across two-thirds of the United States, but are now concentrated in Alaska, Michigan, Wisconsin, Montana, and Ireland, according to the National Wildlife Federation, a national conservation group. Areas of Daho, Oregon, and Wyoming. The Mexican wolf is a subspecies of gray wolf that can also be found in Arizona and New Mexico.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game states on its website that “wolves rarely behave aggressively toward people, but wolf attacks have occurred in Alaska and Canada,” in Saskatchewan and Alaska in 2005 and 2010 respectively. Fatal attacks were reported in the year.

The department advises: “If you encounter a wolf or wolf pack at close range, do not run or turn away. If someone approaches you, if the wolf is looking at you, show aggression and maintain eye contact.”

“Actively use poles, pepper spray, rocks, limbs, noisemakers, or other convenient items to deter wolves. Carrying a firearm is not a bad idea, but only do so if you are qualified and comfortable using one. , and if you are in an area where firearms are permitted.”

In March, two dogs were killed in wolf attacks in Jackson County, Colorado.

In a statement released on Monday, Governor Polis said that after “three years of comprehensive listening and work,” wolves have been reintroduced, adding: “I am grateful to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff for the hard work of making this happen.” We are proud of the hard work that Target has done. The effort to reintroduce wolves has just begun and wolves will rejoin Colorado’s diverse ecosystem of wildlife.”