"Colorado's Wolf Reintroduction Initiative Takes Flight with Five Releases in Grand County"

Colorado has begun a first-of-its-kind state reintroduction effort by releasing five gray wolves into the central mountains. The wolves were captured in Oregon and flown to Colorado for release. This reintroduction is the first voter-mandated reintroduction of the endangered species in the United States. Wildlife advocates see it as an opportunity to restore a crucial species to an ecosystem where wolves have not existed in large numbers since the early 1900s. However, some ranchers and hunters have expressed concerns about potential harm to livestock and hunting game herds. The wolves are expected to disperse from the release site and find suitable habitat. Colorado plans to release up to 50 wolves over the next three to five years.