• The plan must explicitly close the door on any future wolf hunting by underscoring the fact the Colorado's highest legislative body, the electors of Colorado, classified wolves as the "nongame wildlife of the species Canis lupus." Such classification meant that voters clearly intended to prevent sport hunting of wolves in perpetuity. Surveys show that most Coloradans not only support wolf restoration, but they oppose trophy hunting and trapping of wolves.
• The plan fails to fully address the legal requirement to "assist owners of livestock in preventing and resolving conflicts between gray wolves and livestock." The plan must clearly outline non-lethal deterrents and animal husbandry practices that the agency will use and encourage ranchers to use as the first line of defense to minimize conflicts between wolves and livestock.
• The plan should clearly tie receipt of compensation, after an initial incident, to implementing conflict reduction tools and strategies to prevent further depredation.
• Wolves are an essential aspect of our western heritage, and beyond their intrinsic value, are worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the people of Colorado.