Colorado's historic wolf reintroduction faces barrage of challenges a year after first paws hit the ground

A year has been a year since the first wolves were released into Colorado 's central mountains.

Biologists expect to add up to 15 more wolves this month to the nine other wolves already roaming the state in the wild.

The voter-mandated reintroduction has faced a series of legal challenges, a petition from ranchers to pause the next releases.

Ranchers have repeatedly said programs to reduce conflict between wolves and livestock were not fully developed.

A group started a petition to overturn Colorado 's 2020 vote mandating the reintroduction of wolves.

The commission voted 10-1 to deny the petitioners' request, with the only vote in favor of the petition.

A survey of 500 Colorado voters commissioned by a pro-wolf group found 52% of respondents favored continuing the program.

A counter-initiative could appeal to voters.

Three ranchers seek more than $581,977 in compensation for wolf-related losses.

Rancher: Releasing more wolves without more robust conflict-minimization programs in place would be unfair to livestock producers, wolves and taxpayers.