UPDATE: Colorado lawmakers are urgently questioning the escalating costs of the state’s wolf reintroduction program as the annual budgeting process for 2026 kicks off. During a briefing on December 9, 2025, the Joint Budget Committee discussed financial concerns surrounding the program, which is mandated by Proposition 114 to reintroduce gray wolves to Colorado by the end of 2023.
Lawmakers are demanding clarity on how state funds are being allocated amid a projected budget shortfall of approximately $850 million for 2026. This is a significant decrease from the $1.2 billion deficit faced in the current fiscal year, but still raises alarms about potential cuts to the wolf program.
Committee members will hold a critical hearing in January with the Department of Natural Resources to address concerns about the wolf reintroduction’s financial implications and its biological tracking. The meeting will also delve into the recent dismissal of Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis, who resigned to avoid termination, according to records from the Denver Post.
The reintroduction initiative has seen costs surge. From January to July 2025, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spent $3 million on the program, with $1.4 million allocated to personnel alone. The agency’s expenses have raised eyebrows, with concerns about transparency and preparedness among Western Slope producers and local officials.
Senator Dylan Roberts, a Frisco Democrat, expressed frustration over the program’s “out of control” expenses, calling for a halt on acquiring more wolves until effective preventive measures are in place to mitigate conflicts with livestock. This year, the state reduced Parks and Wildlife’s allocation by nearly $260,000 and prohibited additional wolf acquisitions until further notice.
As the budget committee explores potential cuts, a proposed 10% reduction to the annual $2.1 million budget for the wolf program could translate to approximately $210,000 in savings. However, committee staff stress that such cuts could significantly impact operational capabilities.
Despite potential financial constraints, Colorado remains legally obligated to foster a sustainable gray wolf population, as specified in state statutes. The upcoming January hearing promises to be pivotal, as lawmakers seek answers to pressing questions surrounding the wolf reintroduction program’s future and funding.
With the budget discussions heating up, the fate of Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program remains uncertain, and the stakes are high for both wildlife management and local communities. Further developments are anticipated as the Joint Budget Committee prepares for its January session.
