1/9/2026
Dear Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commissioners,
I am writing on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), which represents over 4,700 current, former, and retired employees and volunteers of the National Park Service. Collectively, our membership represents over 50,000 years of national park management and stewardship experience. Our members include former National Park Service directors, deputy directors, regional directors, and park superintendents, as well as a variety of program specialists and field staff. Recognized as the Voices of Experience, the Coalition educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation and protection of the National Park System, and mission-related programs of the National Park Service (NPS).
Outside of their work with the Coalition, our members have a wide range of skills and expertise gained during their careers with the National Park Service. Much of that experience is in wildlife conservation and restoration of at-risk species. Our Coalition strongly supports Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) effort to restore wolverines to Colorado.
Wolverines were once native to Colorado, but disappeared by the early 1900’s. Today, fewer than 400 wolverines remain in the lower 48 states, and the species is vulnerable to climate change and protected as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Colorado contains the largest remaining block of unoccupied wolverine habitat, and could support a substantial number of wolverines, making reintroduction one of the most meaningful opportunities to conserve the species. Some of this habitat includes special places such as Rocky Mountain National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
After three decades of planning, the time is right for wolverine reintroduction. CPW identified a need to reintroduce wolverines to Colorado in the 1990’s and developed a reintroduction plan following a stakeholder process from 2010 to 2013. In 2023 wolverines were protected under the Endangered Species Act. In 2024, Colorado lawmakers passed the bipartisan Restoration of Wolverines Act (SB24-171), empowering CPW to begin a multi-year, state-led reintroduction process. The bill was supported by CPW, Colorado Ski Country USA, Vail Resorts, County Commissioners Acting Together, and 38 wildlife conservation organizations, including several sporting groups and the National Park Service.
CPW’s reintroduction plan marks a major milestone in Colorado’s historic, bipartisan effort to restore wolverines. Based on CPW’s work to date, we anticipate that it will be a science-based, carefully designed strategy reflecting the agencies’ substantial expertise in wolverine ecology and building on years of research, thoughtful planning, and stakeholder engagement.
We also support establishing the livestock compensation mechanism required by the Restoration of Wolverines Act. Wolverines are primarily scavengers, prefer remote habitat, and occur at naturally low densities. With only two documented livestock (sheep) predation cases in the lower 48, conflicts with livestock are expected to be extremely rare. Given the extremely low likelihood of wolverine-livestock conflict, this program will be inexpensive and efficient to implement. We recommend aligning the program with Colorado’s current game damage system for mountain lions, bears, and other wildlife, that wildlife that livestock producers are already familiar with. This provides assurance to ranchers and continues to strengthen the broad support necessary for successful wolverine restoration.
Restoring wolverines to Colorado’s high country will return a native species missing from our mountain ecosystems and support the species’ recovery across its range. This bipartisan, broadly supported effort exemplifies CPW’s expertise in implementing science-based wildlife programs that balance the needs of Colorado’s communities. We urge the Commission to proceed with the necessary rule-making so this important restoration can begin and reaffirm our strong support for CPW and the Commission in this vital work. This is the sort of activity that Coloradoans and the national public expects of our conservation leaders. Restoring this critical component will continue to preserve and protect the unique biodiversity of Colorado.
Sincerely,
Elaine Leslie
Member, Executive Council
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks