The next time the federal or state government wants
to reintroduce wildlife on public lands in Colorado, the state
Legislature wants it to ask nicely.
On April 22
– Earth Day – Colorado Gov. Bill Owens signed the measure requiring
the Legislature’s consent before agencies can restore threatened
and endangered species to the state.
Critics say
the law turns biological decisions into political ones. Legislators
“can’t give these issues the time and expertise that the Division
of Wildlife does,” says Diane Gansauer, executive director of the
Colorado Wildlife Federation. She points out that state agencies
spend years researching wildlife matters and consulting with
experts in the field.
Sandra Eid, legislative
coordinator for the Colorado Sierra Club, says politicians just
want to prevent future reintroductions.
Not so,
say the law’s champions. Rep. Steve Johnson, R, who introduced the
measure, says it will merely “bring more citizen input to bear on
this important decision.”
However, Sen. Dave
Wattenberg, R, says that the bill may make future plans difficult.
“It’d take a hell of a strong case to get wolves and possibly
wolverines released.”
The Division of Wildlife
hopes to reintroduce wolverines next year.
How
does the law affect the recently reintroduced lynx in Colorado
(HCN, 2/15/99)? It doesn’t, says Mike Smith, wildlife chair for the
state Sierra Club, “though it probably will increase negative
fallout on the Department of Wildlife if they continue with the
program.”
*Catherine Lutz
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline State says no to new wildlife.
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