HomeMy WebLinkAbout20195184.tiffRESOLUTION
RE: EXPRESSION OF OPPOSITION TO INITIATIVE #107 ("COLORADO RESTORE GRAY
WOLF POPULATION INITIATIVE")
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, the livestock industry, farming, and ranching communities, and big game
hunting, are several of the primary components of Colorado's economy, and are major economic
and social drivers in Weld County's economy, supported and protected by the Right to Farm
Statement, and
WHEREAS, Weld County residents and visitors also enjoy abundant outdoor recreational
opportunities and tourist attractions, and
WHEREAS, Wolf populations have been reintroduced in the states of Montana, Idaho and
Wyoming, and there have been numerous sightings of wolves in Colorado, documented by
Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and predation by wolves of the wildlife and domestic livestock is a
serious problem that Colorado should not invite, encourage or accept, and
WHEREAS, in addition to the negative economic and social impacts, the reintroduction of
wolves poses a danger to the health, safety and welfare of Weld County citizens through the
transmission of diseases, such as the dreaded Hydatid Disease, which is fatal to wildlife, livestock,
pets, and humans, and
WHEREAS, Colorado is not part of the historic range of the Mexican wolf, the ongoing
private efforts to reintroduce the Northern Gray Wolf to the northern Rocky Mountains have
exceeded recovery goals and are unnecessary based upon the scientific input from the federal
and state agencies tasked with managing wildlife populations, and existing federal wolf recovery
efforts do not include establishing populations of either the gray wolf or the Mexican wolf in
Colorado, and
WHEREAS, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission passed Resolution 16-01
opposing the intentional release of any wolves into Colorado.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld
County, Colorado, that it hereby expresses its opposition to Initiative 107 ("Colorado Restore Gray
Wolf Population Initiative") as follows:
1. The Board opposes any efforts to introduce or expand the populations of wolves
into Colorado.
2. The Board supports recommendations of the Colorado Wolf Working Group, which
were adopted by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission in 2005.
3. The Board supports the position taken by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife in its
Resolution 16-1.
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2019-5184
BC0052
EXPRESSION OF OPPOSITION TO INITIATIVE #107 ("COLORADO RESTORE GRAY WOLF
POPULATION INITIATIVE")
PAGE 2
4. The Board supports delisting of all wolf species under the Endangered Species
Act to allow management of wolves at the state and local levels.
5. The Board requests that any federal or state wolf management plans include
funding to offset the negative impacts of wolves on livestock, wildlife management,
hunting and other adversely affected sections of local economies.
6. The Board supports efforts to include a requirement that any publicly funded or
sponsored wolf education programs include comprehensive and balanced
discussions about the impacts of wolves on local economies, and include the
perspective of livestock producers, hunters, public health officials, and Weld
County's Right to Farm Statement.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted
by the following vote on the 30th day of December, A.D., 2019.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
ATTEST: dathisj Ao;
EXCUSED
Barbara Kirkmeyer, Chair
Weld County Clerk to the Board _
Deputy Clerk to the Board
ounty Attorney
Date of signature: O1/13 /2.O
2019-5184
BC0052
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