Southern Rockies Wolves: In the Field

Defenders of Wildlife is keeping wolf reintroduction in the public spotlight with the other members of the Southern Rockies Wolf Recovery Project.

Wolves belong in the Southern Rockies. Defenders of Wildlife has given evidence that gray wolves can thrive in the region, and that a majority of people in the Southern Rockies favor a well-managed program to reintroduce wolves. Wherever they have returned, wolves in the U.S. have demonstrated tremendous biological and even economic value. We can return them to the Southern Rockies in a way that makes sense for the wolves, for the ecosystem, and for all of the people involved. But none of this will happen without the federal government stepping up to its leading role.

Southern Rockies Wolf Workshop

In August of 2000, Sinapu, the Sierra Club, the Turner Endangered Species Fund, and Defenders of Wildlife sponsored a three-day meeting to determine the potential of the region to support wolves, as well as some of the obstacles to wolf restoration that may be unique to the region. The workshop was conducted by a team from the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG).

One major finding of the workshop: The Southern Rockies Ecoregion could support up to 2,000 wolves mostly on public land. That finding emerged from an analysis of the biological and social aspects of wolf restoration, and sophisticated modeling of landscape features that influence wolf survival (e.g., road density, prey distribution and abundance). A copy of the report is available here.

Southern Rockies Wolf Howling Surveys

Defenders of Wildlife plans to begin wolf howling surveys in the southern Rockies to search for wolves that may have already moved into the region. If found, wolves in Colorado would gain full protection as endangered species. If you live in Colorado and are interested in participating, contact our Denver field office at 303-825-0918.