Reintroducing Wolves to Colorado - It's a Bad Idea
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- Colorado’s economy, elk population, conservation funding, hunting industry and resident taxpayer dollars are in the crosshairs. An environmental extremist-driven ballot initiative aims to force an introduction of wolves onto the Colorado landscape even though Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed a natural migrating, active pack in the northwest part of the state.
Ballot box biology is reckless. In this particular case, it totally undermines the authority of Colorado’s wildlife professionals who have said time and time again over several decades that a forced wolf introduction is a bad idea. As an organization, RMEF pledges to do all in our power to educate voters about the significant, real-life, detrimental impacts of such an effort.
RMEF first warned about the initiative proposal three years ago. Since then, environmental extremists have raised more than $1 million, the lion’s share of it from out-of-state donors, to gather and deliver 215,000 (of nearly six million residents) petition signatures to the Colorado secretary of state. Staffers later deemed 76,037 or 35.3 percent of projected signatures as invalid but approved the measure for the 2020 ballot by a projected margin of 1.8 percent.
Colorado is home to the largest elk herd in North America, yet researchers in the southwest part of the state are trying to figure out why elk recruitment is ailing.
RMEF has a long history in Colorado. Since 1987, RMEF and its partners completed 782 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects with a combined value of more than $177.7 million. These projects protected or enhanced 468,068 acres of habitat and opened or improved public access to 122,107 acres. There are also more than 17,000 RMEF members and 28 chapters in the state.
Proponents are offering zero funding for wolf management, livestock or pet depredation, deterrent measures, research or other costs. Yet they expect Colorado taxpayers and hunters to foot a bill that will be millions upon millions of dollars. As outdoorsmen and women who care about wildlife and our wild landscapes, we must unite and fight against this measure.
Learn more - www.rmef.org/w...
I'm not in favor of reintroduction but if they come on their own, they should be managed per federal law. The impression I got in Wyoming was that the hunters were pissed because they had to get off their asses and hunt because the wolves change the grazing patterns of the elk.
Well there was like no wolves at all in Wyoming for a long time so it changed the landscape but if we do that in Colorado it’s a problem because it will wipe out everything and can attach my cows
One doesn’t just simply hunt a wolf. It’s freakishly hard to find the pack, and even harder to get close enough for a shot. My sister hunted wolves for 6 years before she shot her first one. Hunting them is not the answer. It’s not effective. Idaho even pays $1000 per wolf killed and it’s still not working. The Canadian wolf is killing all of the elk in Idaho.
We don't need laws to manage life on Earth. We already have a Supreme law that does that. It's called evolution.
Reintroduce the wolves into the big cities. That’s where they can balance the population of clueless city slickers and do some good
Lazarus that would be awesome. Cities are where wolves have been devastated. It would be great to get wolves numbers up to historical numbers before city slickers destroyed their habitat.
Lazarus spoken like a true city slicker. Wolves are apex predators and as soon as you aren’t allowed to hunt apex predators nothing is there to keep the in check besides starvation. When the introduce wolves they pass laws so that people can’t hunt them because they are “endangered” and apex predators act completely different when they have no human pressure. They are much more aggressive and brave. If a farmer or land owner shoots one they will rake him over the coals in court and take away his guns and give him possible jail time. If the people who live in those areas don’t want wolves who are you to be saying they should have to deal with them?
Lazarus look at your argument about releasing them into cities. They will leave the cities so you don’t care. Exactly. You have no skin in the game and don’t care about how it would effect anyone else. How about we put up walls around your city than throw them in there? Than would you care? Put them in the biggest park in your down and you can go walk your dog. Also if you defend your dog from attack you will have criminal charges. But don’t worry if your dog gets killed you will get a cheque. That would be awesome.
Lazarus let the wolves grow naturally. You don’t need to introduce them. The migrate and reproduce on their own. Look at the states that did wolf introductions before. No one was allowed to hunt them.
Lots of places don’t allow wolf hunting regardless of numbers or they use poor methods to count them and keep them “endangered”. The same thing has happened with grizzly bears up here in Alberta now that no one can hunt them they are very aggressive and hunters and hikers are having encounters with them more and more every year. Who are the people pushing to keep grizzly bears in a status where they have no reason to fear humans? People like you who don’t have to deal with them and think they should be able to control what happens in someone else’s back yard.
@@pennyontrack city man bad!
the real wolves are the out of staters that come to our Beautiful state and decimate everything.
Absolutely right about that
@@jamessebela3236 So you can say for sure that is Colorado outdoorsman that create what you see in the West Mesa, when a good portion of hunting and fishing license are sold or granted to out of staters? not to mention all of the out of state tourist that camp in Colorado. Though the point I was trying to get across was that the out of state Human wolves are the problem, coming to our state and decimating the our state with thier economic views and driving prices and housing value through the roof. pun intended.
@@jamessebela3236 I was born and raised in junc town and I've always done the right thing as an outdoorsman and packed my trash out....probably californians...just saying lol locusts!
@@KC-gc8xm please elaborate...I'm living in western montana now...I'm from Colorado... what is the rmef saying?
Decimating what tell me what are wolves decimating
Wolf reintroduction worked out OK in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Would Colorado not be able to manage it too?
YOU ARE AN IDIOT. My aunt and uncle live in Montana and they said wolves have gone BAZOOKA and are overtaking and eating everything.
@@ooglyfrog9638 I'm against this proposition, but your example is anecdotal. Also, youre part of the reason the online discourse is so toxic.
@@ooglyfrog9638 Including grandma? 👀
Eating everything as in what? They are responsible for less than 1% of cattle deaths…..it would have been in the news if they eat people….and yes they eat Elk because its part of their diet. If a hunter is mad that there is some competition ( and Elk arent going away- they never have) then maybe they need to hunt better 🤔🤔
Colorado will
How is it a bad idea when they were living here peacefully before us😂
They were killed because they attacked and killed humans prior to the 1940s
It becomes a problem when you wipe the species out and then reintroduce a foreign species that is 60 pounds larger and more aggressive. Its like killing all the house cats in your neighborhood and replacing them with Mountain lions and expecting the shih-tzu population to be unaffected. I guess that would bring some silence to the urban jungle that we all call home.
Grizzly bears were roaming in the Boulder valley and where Denver is now. So by your logic, we should put their introduction on the ballot as well.
@@jrad2721yes we should put bear's on the ballot
Some of the points this video raises would occur regardless of whether wolf recolonization received any human assistance or not. All the wolves in WA state for example migrated there on their own, state expenditures to manage wildlife populations and their interactions with people occur regardless of how they got there or what the species is. Reason #8 says wolves would spread to areas where elk are. That will also happen under natural dispersal. Wildlife goes where the good habitat is. #9 Implies wolf populations just grow uncontrollably, wolves are the most dangerous threat to other wolves. They commonly kill-each other. They can only survive where the prey base will support them, if the prey base fails so do they. It's natural and normal for populations of both wolves and their prey to go through periods of contraction and expansion over time. If this poses a problem to long term ungulate population sustainability on our modern modified landscape then wolves can be controlled and hunted like any other species. Wolves certainly don't need help recolonizing Colorado, but this whole presentation reeks of fear mongering and seems more about being anti-wolf then anti-reintroduction. I like the habitat work and reintroduction efforts you guys do for elk, but I wish you were as supportive of holistic management for all our wildlife.
The state of Colorado already has a management plan in place regarding the natural dispersal of wolves within the state. RMEF agrees with those in Colorado who are in charge of managing wildlife and an artificial reintroduction of wolves into the state goes against that.
@@rmef out of curiosity, would RMEF support reintroduction of wolves if CPW supported reintroduction? I ask because RMEF has a conflict of interest here that is not being articulated: wolves are likely to reduce numbers of elk in the state.
@@jakeg6917 it would be s bigger conflict if they did support it lol
@@sbman436 and that's my point. why would/should they say anything at all?
@@jakeg6917 because that's literally their job. The points should still be considered seriously. It's up to the individual to critically think about them. If you can't get past the person speaking that's on you. Why would you say anything at all?
I thought that the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation was a conservation organization based in ecological science. Seems that I was wrong.
We are. By that regard, we believe the wildlife scientists in each state should be responsible for managing wildlife per the best available science - which currently is against this reintroduction. We do not believe decisions with ecological ramifications should be made by ballot box biology.
@@rmef yeah, nah.
@@alanbrooke144 IM FROM MISSOULA AND THE RMEF IS A JOKE.. NOBODY LIKES THEM BUT THE ELK HUNTERS.. MANAGING WILD ANIMALS DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON WHAT INVISIBLE LINE THEY ARE IN IS IDIOTIC.. SO THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE CHANGES WHEN YOU CROSS AN IMAGINARY LINE?
Rocky mountain elk foundation is against wolves for financial reasons only.
@@rmef Well, reintroducing native predators is probably the best way to control the populations of other species.
Maybe it sucks that wolves we're re-introduced in Colorado lands, but wolves were part of the native animals, Humans are the invasive predators kind, besides to be highly destructive not only to other animal kinds but to the environment. So sucked up, life is uncertain so learn to share the land with our brothers wolves.
Then let's bring back whatever animals used to occupy NYC, Chicago and Los Angeles. Maybe the people in those cities should get out of the way of wolves
All I know is the Yellowstone eco system was way off kilter 20+ years ago. Once the top predator was reintroduced, everything fell back in line. I do agree, I don't think it's necessary in CO, but the Yellowstone reintroduction was a great success. And I lived in WY for decades, so I happily helped pay for it.
And what happened to Yellowstone's coyote population after wolve reintroduction? That impact is just beginning to be felt.
@@johnmoreno417 coyotes do more damage than wolves…..read about it
@@Shottamanrambo More damage to livestock, you mean?
Yellowstone is the best ecosystem in the lower 48. Loaded with apex predators and there prey.
@@johnmoreno417 they returned to normal
If the wolves are already coming into the state, great, let them naturally come back, but if they are forced back, the current wildlife populations most likely wouldn't be able to adapt quickly enough
People hunt more animals in Colorado than wolves could ever dream of.
However, artificial reintroduction won't damage the ecosystem at all.
@@hyenaboy7504 is that right Mr scientist?
@@o-REDBEARD-o Yes, as it's only invasive species that damage ecosystems
People and their pets and businesses have more rights than a species that's been endangered and after almost a lifetime they recently are taken off the endangered species list. These animals would be allowing the earth to continue without the harm we bring to the entire planet. They deserve their land back. Their populations back. Farmers will need help in protecting livestock it appears it's the issue. Smh....why cant they do that? Help them adjust? It's not a bad idea it's just an incomplete one.
Oh, so people and domestic animals are more important than, ya know, the entire freakin' ecosystem?
@@hyenaboy7504 the eco system is nonsense. It's an unproven theory that Arthur Tansley came up with. the idea is if one species becomes extinct the entire eco-system will collapse. Never proven.
@@joecole7122 The fact that the deer in Yellowstone National Park started to overpopulate after the wolves were killed off there literally proves you wrong. All animals play a vital role in nature, that is fact (just ask any zoologist).
Another example of a keystone species is the spotted hyena in Africa. If you remove them, then not only will the other animals overpopulate, but there will also be rotting carcasses lying all over the place which could cause a mass spread of disease.
@@hyenaboy7504 A deer hunt makes a lot more sense than introducing wolves, which have decimated the elk population in parts of Idaho. Besides, if you are going to be an animal advocate, why not advocate for the Elk, Bison and other animals that get eaten alive by the wolves? We make laws forbidden hunting with dogs, because its inhumane and then we turn right around and turn wolves loose to do even worse to the animals. It doesn't make any sense. The hunting dogs don't eat the animals alive, like the wolves do.
Montana wild game population is decimated today... Less wildlife=more $ for fewer permits
Evidence?
"Decimated" you are aware that wolves are wildlife right? And actually help the ecosystem? Eh what am I saying of course you don't! Clueless idiot just makes decisions based on the first thing that pops into mind, with no facts or experience. The world does not need you and you hold back progress. Please don't ever vote
Nope, the elk and deer were simply returned to the numbers they were at before the wolves were initially killed off.
How about we introduce them into San Francisco and Los Angeles, might take care of the homeless problem
except wolf attacks on humans are exceptionally rare.
Robust wolf populations keep coyote in check. Coyotes cause FAR more trouble and are much more likely to come in to human habitations. Strong wolf pops help suppress inbreeding, suppress diseases in the deer pop, and ensure a naturally robustness of all prey species. Get past your own concerns and see the benefits of a species you consider a nuisance. Biodiversity is a proven necessity for a truly healthy local ecosystem. And in ways we couldn't predict. We need the animals back. If you're worried about your draw, well, that's life. Of you're worried about your herd maybe you shouldn't just free-graze them. Maybe, you know, engage some of that individual responsibility most outdoorsmen brag about. Like keeping an eye on your animals.
Elk, just like deer are NOT sacred animals... So tired of hearing that excuse as to why we cant have wolves somewhere where they use to roam naturally until we showed up and wiped them out. Wolves gotta eat too, and i dont care if theyre eating your deer or elk.
Absolutely agree!
Then let's have them roam Los Angeles and New York City.
Looks like the wolf’s didn’t wait for the vote lol 😂
Randy HUTCHINSON lol huh 🤔
They are already there in Colorado
Somebody's gotta keep those elk numbers down, and it's better be those who ate them for millions of years
Where I am in Georgia the deer are way overpopulated and human hunters have done nothing to make a dent in this….but yea according to these type of organizations wolves are the biggest issue
@@Shottamanrambo I really doubt the people who live in rural Georgia would vote to bring in wolves.
@@joecole7122 lol not at all same with the rest of GA... I was just making a point about the consequences of removing natural predators from a habitat
The wolves will balance the ecosystem, not decimate it as everyone else says. We are returning it to what it used to be, and it used to work.
BUT GREY WOLVES NEVER USED TO BE IN COLORADO. And obviously it didn’t “work” because people back then hunted and trapped them so that they could save their lively hood.
@@ooglyfrog9638 they saved money, not livelihood
And it worked with nature, I’m not talking about human interference
Yeah. Why do people think a native species is "invasive"?
@@hyenaboy7504 Great. then let's introduce native species to cities
@@joecole7122 That's not what I said. Cities are a man made "ecosystem", whereas a national park (such as Yellowstone) is a natural ecosystem. And, in natural ecosystems; if you remove any species, you'll be causing a lot of damage to said ecosystem. In fact, the whole point of conservation is to prevent ecosystems from collapsing.
There are probably quite a few articles written by researchers (zoologists, ecologists, etc) relating to ecosystems and the role(s) that different species play.
There will NEVER be a shortage of elk.
Hunters need to learn to hunt better
Not elk, Just Moose. But eveyone hates moose so who cares. Am I right?
Hippies need to learn to be hipper and actually in tune with nature instead of always trying to balance a wrong that they did by killing all the wolves in Yellowstone in the first place, second; by reintroducing a larger more aggressive Russian species of wolf. Those Darn Russians just keep getting in the way.
@@Shottamanrambo Yeah maybe I should switch to a subaru like you.
There was never a shortage of dodo birds either
Sorry, it's a good idea as established in other areas where introduction has been done.
We have werewolves here in Fort Morgan and we coexist peacefully, somewhat
To ovoid problems introduction needs to be done. With natural introduction, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) applies and there can be no management of wolf impacts. With planned introduction of wolves, management of both the wolves and the impacts they cause, including assisting farmers and ranchers to adapt to the presents of wolves, can be undertaken. Colorado Department of Wildlife (CDW) has not really said it's a bad idea to introduce wolves, they have simply indicated that politically, due to livestock interest, that, it would be difficult to carry out an reintroduction program. However, with political support from an voter initiative, CDW would not have trouble putting together a well managed introduction program. This certainly be better than a wild, unmanaged, free for all, natural expansion of wolf populations into Colorado.
$1-10 million in taxes equates to an increase of a few cents per person. Definitely willing to pay .10 - $1.00 a year to have wolves in my backyard.
RMEF is based in Missoula, MT. Darn outsiders!
I wonder how many Coloradoans who hike would want any form of large apex predator cat, if they hunted in packs?, No to Wolves
Colorado hiker here. I want wolves🖐
The reintroduction of the wolf into Yellowstone has actually been a good thing for the deer and elk populations. What this video means to say is reintroducing the wolf will be bad for out-of-state hunters, who pay a premium to come out here, shoot up the landscape, and hit nothing. I'm am elk hunter, and I say let the wolves come back.
Jason Mimiaga The wolves have devastated moose, elk, deer, lynx, cougar, and pretty much everything but grizzlies. It is part of the communist famine plan. They’re already in Colorado. I saw tracks in 2008. This has wasted billions of dollars. Non stop tracking, tagging, culling, managing, and investigating keeps a virtual army of federal parasites employed. We already had wolves here it was illegal to introduce hybrids to begin with. Let alone with a native population of a smaller kind of wolf that is now wiped out. The wolf reintroduction turned out like everything the incompetent parasites produce promise, lies, corruption, robbery, and eventually they have to kill some people to keep their secrets. I have been counting game since the since I982. I can show you their lies all through the years printed right in the newspapers.
@@jeffd1919
Lolz
Wrong.
You are very ignorant, keep following the herd Sheeple.
@@kevingrove4379 false look up yellowstone wolf reintroduction
@@kevingrove4379 🐺 = communism? Is everything communist now?
Nonsense, people side with cpw!?!? Not where I’m at in Colorado. They keep us out of the woods.
Legislators think marijuana taxes will pay for all this. "You want weed, we want wolves"
They did this in Idaho and its devastated the elk herds
No it didn't. Elk in idaho as of last year were 120,000+ strong. That's with hunters killing 20,000+ a year for the last 5 years.
@@BMWaM3 I was there over Christmas and that's not what my hunting family had to say about it.Lewis and Clark Valley....!
@@yulliepayullie1512 but that is what Fish and Game had to say about it, based off of factual numbers. No offense.
Elk might still be there but harder to see. Ever notice how hard it is to see or find elk durring hunting season. Something like that may be going on like that now. With wolves it's all year hunting season. A seen elk is likely a dead elk. I think this is the reason you are not seeing elk, they are there but harder to see.
Your telling me 700 wolves devastated a 120,000 population of elk, like breh
So the biggest proponents of wolf reintroduction into Colorado are from out of state and have no financial $$ skin in the game... wow! Colorado residents and all outdoor enthusiasts take a stand against this BS! Remember the lessons learned from Wyoming since 1995!
Lolz
I'm a Colorado resident AND a hunter, and I support reintroduction.
Wyoming is a great example of how successful it can be.
"Remember the lessons learned from Wyoming since 1995" You mean the lesson about how wolves are vital to the ecosystem?
Yeah, great job contradicting yourself, there.
There's already wolves here we don't need to use tax money to bring more of them.
A new family moved down from Wyoming into the Gunnison area, I have a friend who was given the pelt of one of these wolves shot on a cattle ranch. Yeah it’s sad but ranchers will do what it takes to keep their product safe, understandably.
ALL IT TAKES IS FENCES BUT I GUESS THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO THAT.
@@uramag7 🤦♂️ wolves can get into fencing
@@uramag7 Lol what a 12ft fence that also goes 2ft underground? They do have fences already. Wolves can dig under a fence and scale a tall one too.
@@jercasgav stop lying 😂😂😂 wolves aren't digging 2 feet deep and scaling 12 for fences. So bring a worthless shepherd
@@uramag7wolves get through fences, this ain't Disney
Funny that the RMEF made this-In a state that has the highest concentration of elk and other ungulates. No wolves=more prey. More prey = degradation.
See a correlation here???!
They're trying to keep selling elk tags. It's one big corrupt racket. Out of staters pay over 500 bucks a person and they dont want their gravy train to come to a halt.
That’s it. It’s never about the health of the web but of the pockets of a few.
I see the solution as increasing hunting season.
@@joecole7122 for real. like open moose to more than one guy per area per hundred years.
Anyone else thinking we should reintroduce the saber tooth tiger?
💯
dumb
There are so many bots commenting here that it's not even funny
As an elk hunter from a ranching family, I'm all for the wolves naturally coming back into Colorado. They have roles to play. It is nature balancing back out.
This proposition of artificially reintroducing wolves creates a lot of problems naturally, politically, and economicly the way it sits now.
The reality is that if the socialists and urban social justice warriors organize and vote, there is a good chance the ill-conceived plan will get passed.
Lolol socialists and sjws
Nothing should be forced on any state from any outside agency/organization. Each states wild department should decide what's best for the current and future situation of that particular state. With the proposed areas for reintroduction it easy math to see that the wolves will quickly spread into New Mexico, Arizona, Utah within 5-10 years as their packs grow and new packs break off - If they plant them into the proposed southwest Colorado county. Are these other states ready for wolves in the next 5-10 years.
And that's bad . . . how? Wolves used to be found in every State, and were essential in maintaining balanced ecosystems.
Bring em
Jason Mimiaga point is, let the state and those particular communities determine what's good for their state and communities. Not some outside group forcing wolves on their communities. Just because wolves may have been there before don't necessarily mean that's what's best for the wolves or that community/state.
I'd love to you singing the same tune if the state votes yes lol
@@billswenson7090
Lolz
What's best for ecosystem is what matters. It's time to undo the damage.
You need Wolves to have a balance of predator and prey. Without Wolves, too many deer are running around.
Yes in our local town in Washington by Olympic National Park the Doe and fawn have learned to raise themselves in our town to evade predation and are freaking rampant quickly losing fear of humans.
They occasionally get killed by a car impede traffic. Some People act like it is fun and games watching and photographing deer in their yard but IMO I don't think they'll be laughing when the hungry starved mountain Lions start getting closer & closer & inevitably maul a child.
Which they unfortunately are. One stalks one of our parks and several stalk our waterfront trail one of which was actually watching my friend and I as we were smoking up in the woods. If he hadn't noticed it and got us out of there it potentially could have struck if it were hungry & bold enough which they certainly are.
It's sad as it is some kind of negative feedback loop. The more Prey that get socialized, the more predators will start getting emboldened to get closer to human habitats.
They will also likely get hungrier and desperate to seek out easier targets like Livestock which then feeds into the feedback loop of fervent farmers rabid about their livestock.
Very understandable the farming industry is difficult work that isn't acknowledged as much as it should be. People can't have wolves eating their cattle. Unfortunately wolves, cougars & coyotes have to eat.
Kind of an impasse. Very unfortunate for all sides. Luckily we have modern technology to help mitigate damage.
Yes but we already have wolves here and win a super predator population gets too big it’s a problem
Too many diseased deer.
@@zacharywells6867 yeah like 5 wolves, we are really getting close to over population aren't we? smh
I think its time to reintroduce wolves to Central Park
Let's just get rid of all the elk predators in Colorado. Mountain lions, wolves, man.
There problem solved, now the elk can live peacefully and serve no purpose.
And replicate exponentially...
Bloomberg work my bet
Don't do it Colorado, check the stats from Montana
Check the stats from yellowstone
🤫 Ron
What stats. That less than 1% of cattle are killed by wolves. Or that Hunters now actually have to compete🤔🤔. Maybe they need to get better at hunting
I checked the stats... not really seeing a problem.
Grey wolves lived across the continent, a single pack per state isn't enough. Yes I am a hunter and yes I care about wildlife, all of it. I don't just want to farm wildlife to hunt I want the ecosystem stabilized predators and all. This feels like a classic example of a predator not wanting to share game and territory with competition, game hunters like us need to allow predators to exist and for them to do their ecological jobs of stabilizing the biosphere. Letting herds overgrow and then saying it's population control isn't a good thing. It's just greedy, and tbh wolves don't just over populate like coyotes do. A wolf pack needs a good chunk of land to survive, and I'm fine sharing game that we raise with wolves.
You did not touch the fact that gray wolves are not native to Colorado
Rob Thiede they totally are. Grey wolves lived in Colorado before 1940. That’s a fact.
@@lorenl8176 There were metric shit tons of them. In addition to there being metric shit tons of everything else.
This entire video and fight is about money. Taxes will cost Colorado residents about ten cents. The DOW will not able to issue as many elk tags for hunters which is the main income. It’s not about a balanced ecosystem or what’s right for the animals. Just money and people wanting to hunt to manage populations themselves. I say bring grizzly bears back to Colorado. Tear down the dams and restore native fish populations. Sneak it in the ballot while everyone is arguing about dogs.
Wolves were here before. Who killed them off? The reason why ranches are not for it is bc they don’t know how to deal with wolves.
Wolves are amazing!
I love wearing their fur.
At least reintroducing them won't damage the ecosystem, though.
Wolves have been in colorado for at least 10 yrs if they aren't culled they will keep expanding.
Thousands of years*
But they willed be culled. There were literally no rules or even eyes on the existing populations to say otherwise. If they ranchers and hunters could be trusted to do the right thing then maybe, but apparently quite the opposite is true. Remember SSS? Yeah... that is why re-introduction is necessary.
Young lambs and calves may not be tagged yet and registered in the flock or herd registry. A carcass of an adult may not be found. Did that fat steer wander off and fall through the ice of a stream and drown? If a killed carcass is found will is be declared unreimbursable as it may look like a coyote in heat and a bunch of horny dogs which made the kill?
I hope night thermal Scopes comes down in price soon. Problems in Yellowstone occurred as Congress eliminated native Americans hunting rights when they created the reserve.
Which "legislative report" is mentioned in this video? Where is the source for the "theory that is being pushed on the public" that claims it is an absolute fact that wolves will stop the spread of CWD in every area? And where is the source for the CPW commission resolution stating they oppose the intentional release of any wolves into Colorado? And what is your source for stating that CPW and its Employees are "legislatively mandated to not comment on the ballot initiative?" Can we have sources? This is certainly polished and well edited presentation, and it certainly gives the untrained eye an impression of being well researched thanks to the smooth veneer of professionalism imparted by the editing. However, with no sources listed for the original material used to gather the information presented, it's hard to take seriously. A bunch of numbers with no sources is meaningless, and also implies the presenter discovered information while they researched that did not support their claims, which was left out of the presentation since it not only does not support but has the potential to counter their argument. If you truly believe everything presented here, and you believe you have a strong body of evidence amassed to support your claims, please provide your sources, so that context can be had for those curious about the points you brought up here.
The sources are all provided as hyperlinks here, which was linked in the video description: www.rmef.org/why-a-forced-colorado-wolf-introduction-is-a-bad-idea/
This video is terrible. BRING BACK THE WOLVES TO COLORADO. We want them!!
So, restoring the balance of nature is a bad idea?
The wildlife officials in charge of managing all wildlife in Colorado agreed that this was not restoring "balance of nature." In order to do that, it would require removing millions of homes and people out of the native landscapes that once supported the various animals.
@@rmef Well, at least the reintroduction won't destroy the ecosystem (since it's only invasive species that do that). Also, I'd imagine that trying to restore the balance of nature was the reason they reintroduced them in the first place?
Actually, that’s incorrect. The proposed reintroduction was passed through the ballot boxes with no regards to science or ecology, whatsoever. The scientists responsible for the area opposes it.
@@rmef I wonder what predators the scientists there would have reintroduced? Since they will need to have some form of predator to control the population of other species
@@rmef FALSE FALSE FALSE. This debate went to ballot box because it was sitting in a stalemate for over 20 years. I'm sure the inaction suited your organization just fine hmm? The science was done, it was enough to push it through reintroduction efforts in Idaho, Montana and WY (Yellowstone). However, ranching lobbyist as well as the hunting industries are powerful financial and legislation backers. The fear of wolves drove the blocking of litigation and re-introduction, not the facts themselves. Much like the rest of US politics.
The people that want them are offering no funding!! So the millions of dollars is coming from the 99% of people who dont want them? Really! Not only are the paying tons to put them there, then your also going to loose revenue from hunters and tag holders etc... Thats double... A YEAR! For real. Dont allow this garbage and shoot the ones that already are there! Omg. People are nuts. And those people that want them, will never see them in the wild! Wow!
You are familiar with these things called ecosystems, right? Wolves are vital to the ecosystem, there.
When your border collies and livestock guardian dogs are killed and eaten it is heartbreaking. They are not just expensive, it takes time to train and work with and they are family.
Sorry, you're a liar. Wolves don't eat other dog species.
Get livestock guardian breed dogs. That's what they were bred for. Farmers like you are unfit shepherds.
Because New Yorkers can out vote Iowans, should they tell them how to grow corn?
Well grey wolfs are natives to colorado so i dont see it being a bad idea.
I vote NO to wolves for wolves in Colorado!!!!
😂 basically, your hunting and money are far more important than actual conservancy. I get it.
Hunting, and the related funds derived from it, are the primary conservation source in the United States. They are one in the same.
@@rmef RMEF does a lot of great conservation work. But they are wrong about wolves. Elk populations are strong in ID, MT, and WY.
Guess what..... wolves don't care. They came all on theyr own 🐺
I live in Mt. Wolves are all over and deer and ell are taking the blunt of these ignorant people. They charge just as much for a wolf tag as they do for elk or deer. They are making money off wolves and that's the only reason they are reintroducing them it's all money with no care for the inviroment we are losing this fight all over the place needs shut down now. I'm tired of hunting elk or deer and turning into wolf hunt cuz they are all over the place.
Wolves were reintroduced to HELP the ecosystem since they play a vital role there. The other species are simply being reduced to the numbers they were at BEFORE the wolves were previously wiped out.
Also, should we really be blaming a native predator for things humans are (mostly) responsible for.
Introduction would be amazing in Colorado. Maybe more people should learn about the research in yellowstone and maybe, just maybe, Colorado would see how well Yellowstone environment chanced back to how it was before humans messed up the land
human's didn't mess anything up
@@joecole7122 Humans did. It's just now recovering back to what it was. Bison wiped out to starve the Indians wolves were wiped out for ranchers and other animals were nearly wiped out trapping.
@@rockie307 We don't need wolves back in Idaho. Why don't we reintroduce whatever animals once inhabited Los Angeles or NYC. we won't because that is where the liberals live.
@@joecole7122 this must be a troll... it has to be
Cwd which you introduced or let lab animals out. CDC ft. Collins Co.
In a state with big game populations on a steady and in some places rapid decline. This may not be the best medicine. Not to mention the loss of revenue that out of state hunters bring in.
Halting hunting would result in cutting off the primary funding source for wildlife conservation in the US. Where would you suggest the replacement for that funding come from?
@@rmef A lot of reserves in Africa don't allow hunting, and they still get funding to keep running.
Is is people from cities deciding on the entirety of anyone with livestock outside of cities
who says it's just people from the city?
Wolves have killed thousand & thousands of people around the world in the last few centuries alone. In fact, here in the U.S., the Massachusetts Bay Colony put the first Wolf bounty into law by 1630, and I'm sure they had extremely good reasons for doing it. Another thing that most pro-wolf-people fail to understand is that wolves once inhabited virtually all of North America only a few hundred years ago, including the city where you live, work and play. And if wolves were restored throughout all of their true historic range, you would be shooting them in your own backyards as quickly as possible, and you would have no choice out of fear for your children.
Ok I have been scrolling the comment section looking at the views because this is was an unknown issue to me until just now. But yours is the first completely nonsensical one ive seen.
First. Claiming wolves have killed thousands and thousands of people over the centuries is a deliberate mis direction. Dogs have killed thousands and thousands of their owners over the last few centuries. That means, following your logic, we should kill all dogs. Wolves are a rival predator we've been coexisting with for 10s of thousands of years of course there's gonna be blood. I don't hear anyone calling for the eradication of bears, pumas, and other large predators. Its because its not a real argument.
Second. Just because someone put a bounty on wolves at one point, doesn't mean they were smart or reasonable. Hunting animals because we fear them isn't logical. People throughout history have driven animals to extinction for no reason other than they could. Take a look at the Tasmanian tiger. People saw it, thought it looked like a wolf, and proceeded to drive it to extinction. They had no reason to suspect they were a threat. Its was just outta stupidity and fear.
Third. The odds of actually dealing with a wolf on your property is minimal to non existent. Wolves have developed an instinctual fear of humans because we have successfully driven dozens of species to extinction and the ones we haven't, have been routinely hunted for centuries. And in looking at US stats, I found 34 recorded fatal attacks in the US since 1761, and a total of 69 non fatal attacks in that same time period. That's a pitiful number. 280 years and 103 attacks. That's around less than 3 per year on average. Wolves know we are their biggest predator. They keep their distance.
@@Mikakarot23 lmao damn i was gonna tell him he was wrong but you wrote a novel. Lol.
That is false
OMG! Just WOW!
Elk are important but they will not go extinct, rather the population will be controlled if we bring back wolves
Thank you oh my gosh people should read your comment more often
Wolves are not migrating to Colorado naturally! They are more than 7 times the population objective in Wyoming. The introduced them and failed to manage them. They are migrating because the wolf populations have exploded and the elk populations in places like Yellowstone Park have plummeted. The moose population may never recover. Wolves are looking for new territory and food sources due to forced reintroduction and nonexistent management in adjacent states. The same thing will happen in Colorado.
Evidence?
I wouldn't mind a wolf pelt.
”Stress caused weight loss in their animals!”
I'm from Wyoming those wolf's are already at your borders medicine bow nation forest your northern border to Wyoming. Packs are growing here 50 strong I've seen on TV ,. Heards of elk on the refuge in Jackson Hole this year record low. No buffalo, no elk. Cattle prices going to skyrocket . Bad Idea. Don't do it Colorado wolf's hunt for fun to teach there puppy's to hunt when there done with your deer and elk its your cattle. Biggest elk heard to gather in Wyoming not any more, ever been on one of those slay rides through the park up in Jackson Hole in the winter., I have. Let them predators stay gone, check your records on game numbers when our forefathers wiped them out back in the day our game heards don't need to reach that low again. Let the environmentalists who what them back take responsibility for cattle and lives lost. Who's going to make your dogs stay, there is talk of wolfs down to California and Oregon strays from Wyoming already.
@UCu0WNR3uYVpDK9bP1Gn7vEg you might be able too fight off or avoid a wolf but a young child he doesn't you must not have children, also say you break down miles from home maybe coming back from the mountains and start walking to get help and a pack of 5 to 50 wolf's come across you let's see you avoid them, your food to them and as with wolf's in packs they become more aggressive to establish dominance, you should get use to carrying a gun if you're the out doors type. Wolf's are not pets in less than 10 years the wolfs will leave Wyoming any way are heards are dying off I know a land owner who charges 10,000 for an elk hunt he caters to 100 hunters from September to late session out to January . Between game and fish and big game outfitters and the wolf hunting will become the king's sport. as it is called in Europe on the rich can hunt.
Some of the herd numbers dipped a bit, but it's nothing devastating. And I don't know where you get your information, but it is a far from common occurrence for wolves to engage in surplus killing. Bring some legitimate data to the table.
@@raulabeyta7853 35000 in previous years sometimes as many as 50000 would show up in Jackson this I heard 2500 showed up last year have not heard how many showed up this year. I would say thats more than slightly and when there completely out of elk up hear they will be in all the harboring states, unless they slow down to eat all the cowboys cattle. What do you pay for beef where you live.
@@raulabeyta7853 I checked the game and fish numbers around 9000 last year this year they are claiming 6400 but remember game and fish biologist put the wolfs there. My friend who traveled to Jackson said those numbers GF are giving are inflated the information I think comesfrom the same peaple who want to put them in Colorado. Past heard 50000 game and fish numbers 6400 elk this year lot of elk more than a few.
"Let them predators be gone" Umm, why do you want the ecosystem destroyed?
And do you really think the elk and deer were at the numbers they're at now BEFORE the wolves were initially killed off?
Please learn from Wyoming's mistake
Wyoming didn't make a mistake
Wolves are naturally returning and most likely will return to a natural historic population. Stop meddling in the natural process because you think wolves are beautiful and their puppies are sooo cute. That's what your Pitipoo is for.
PS I love Wolves enough to leave them alone. They can take care of themselves.
Your argument is flawed from the start. Wolves were eradicated in the lower 48 over 70 years ago. The tampering by man was already perpetrated. Try again.🙂
@@corsairsfolly3372 What part of "return to a natural historic population" do you not understand?
Six wolves is not a return to natural numbers. The pack is also more than likely not native to Colorado. Man removed a keystone species and forever altered a natural balance that took hundreds of thousands of years to reach. The entire eco system has been thrown off. A pack that small and wide ranging is too small to make any impact on the damages created. That pack will eventually be hunted down by the narrow minded like their ancestors were.
@@corsairsfolly3372 You know wolves breed and migrate naturally, right? You also know that things will never return to pre 1940's either, right? You also understand that nothing I have stated justifies the past, correct?
So what the he'll is your problem?
Yes... Let’s add another level of stress to our game herds. Longer, hotter, dryer Summers, non-existent Spring seasons, and Winter weather that often runs into June. Burn areas that never return to healthy forest. Human encroachment into formerly wild areas aren’t enough... Wolves are exactly what we need to finish off our elk herds.
They wont wipe out the herds. You are so misinformed.
@@squishyfaceguy Exactly. It's only invasive species (and humans) that cause damage to ecosystems.
Yellowstone and wyoming are still full of elk don't believe the propaganda.
"Wolves are exactly what we need to finish off our elk herds"
Finish them off? This is why your side is not taken seriously. So hyperbolic... so little to back it up.
Forcible TAX ON PAYERS... SCREWED, MONEY IS THE FREAKING GOAL...
I’ll probably vote no. Hadn’t considered some of these points. I’m also a hunter so it’s in my self interest to oppose.
If you want to get rid off deer and elk bring in more wolves.
No. Making human hunting easier.
Colorado Wolf Initiative vs Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Let them fight
If you have too many elk ...simply allow more tags for hunting...too many wolves and you have no animals left because the wolves eat..wolves are pleasure hunters!
No, they aren't. But house cats are.
Nick...thats because you are wasteful and enjoy the idea of an animal having to suffer as it dies. Have you ever seen an elk or deer being ripped apart by a wolf? Its not always quick....might take hours. Oh and they do pleasure kill. Kill a string of elk or caribou every mile for 100 miles....not eating the meat...not even the liver? Not a pleasure kill aye? Both experts lol
@@nicksangetta8874
I'm fine with hunting. Hunters contribute more to conservation - both through the purchase of licenses/tags and through voluntary donations to conservation charities - than any other demographic.
@@ericrichardson5386 Evidence?
*reintroduction
cpw.state.co.us/wolves
It is a bad idea because there are to damb many people living here now... The mountains are covered in houses.... It you put them in a national forest they won't stay... Take care and have a great day everyone....
It wouldn't be fair to the wolves.
It is NOT needed here in Colo. I will vote NO!
Why remember yellowstone
@@Antonya944 There are wolves here already. Why enlarge the number of preditors back here when man has already badly disrupted the eco system. They will eventually be killed by people due to the problems that will arise. Not a good idea for this state to do. They want Colo to be Calif not like Montana.
@@ericellis8852 but CA doesn't have wolves.
Theyre already here.
Jest sell more marijuana to pay for it.
Thank you so much for this well made video. This video makes me proud to be a RMEF member! We need all the help we can get here in Colorado.
Agree that the video is very “big league” looking with quite a professional feel to it. (I wonder how much of RMEF donations and fund raiser dollars were spent on its production?)
Coming from a neutral opinion standpoint on this issue, and wanting to hear well thought out arguments to help me form my own opinion, I found most of the points made were weak and lacking substantive logic power. If one is easily swayed by fancy graphics and “breaking news” dramatic music, this may be an effective tool, but I doubt it will have much effect on the majority of critical thinkers. Instead, it should have provided more (some were provided) substantial reasons. For example: I was told by an RMEF member that the wolves that would be introduced into Colorado are not the same type of wolves as the original native wolves. If this is true, that would be an argument to be made. (If untrue, another reason not to blindly trust every member’s arguments)
To sum up: turn down the attempts to influence emotional reactions to the issue and instead focus more on fact driven arguments.
As for me, I’m still neutral; video didn’t help me enough.
Rain'bow Goodhunt you understand that the money from elk tags goes directly to supporting all wildlife in the state? Where is the money to support wildlife in this wolf reintroduction?
@@MrWetrek You know tourism is a thing, right? There are some reserves in Africa that don't allow hunting (look at the Massai Mara, for example) and they still manage to make money.
reintroduce da chee wah wah! start small and werk yer way up! 😀😊
It doesnt cost that much to get wolves into colorado. And it wouldnt matter since over 60% of wildlife population has gone extinct. In another decade there will barely be wildlife left. After wildlife were next. Understand it before its too late!
Wildlife management by the ballet box is insane and irresponsible! Let the CPW manage Colorado’s wildlife as the plan they have is working well and has a proven record for being the best in the country! Don’t let uneducated people with no experience ruin what has taken so much hard work to achieve! Just say no to this stupid idea!
yes reintroduce wolf in Colorado where they belong and stop human depredation , I believe this video is sponsored by the weathy ranchers
You live in a city, huh?
@@jamessutherland5107 nope and I voted yes. What's your point?
I want to leave Colorado now wolves and covid I'm done
Buh bye now.
So, you want to leave a state because nature exists?
Just let it happen (as it already is) naturally.
$800,000 to put some doggies that can kill you in the state, nah. Can spend on something else
Well it passes. I rarely carry a gun when hiking but I need to start caring every time. How long until the wolves kill a few kids and they pass a new bill to remove them again. There is a reason the wolves were hunted to extinction in the state. Oh well, this is what the people wanted so protect yourself when hiking.
lol you guys are scared, move to the city or grow a pair
this is insane....wolves in colorado is a very bad idea
Our ancestors tried killing then off for a reason...
Your european ancestors you mean
yeah, and the reason was lack of environmental and ecological education and understanding.
@@Antonya944 That's racist and a very shallow understanding of farming and agriculture in general.
@@Reed411 Maybe you should go back to school then and research how other indigenous people solved over predation problems.
@@brettsharbono3022 haha right, like that is something that is generally taught in school. Also, it was your European ancestors who tried killing them off. So nah, not racist, but nice try. The wolf was exalted and even had their own deities in Dine, Blackfoot and Lakota societies (as I'm sure many others). If farming and agricultural best practice is to cull any animal that is threatening their crops or livelihood they maybe they are the ones who need to rethink their education.
Because your done such a great job so far. Like the forests.
How many ranchers have paid back the government for wildlife entangled in fence
This comment thread is full of some real mouth breathers 🤦♂️ nobody is losing money due to wolves killing all the animals
Lmao
And the wolves aren't driving species to extinction, either. If they were, then those species would have gone extinct thousands of years ago.
Dont need wolves when you have men... Cant have both
How about werewolves?
@@justinshepard9352 real ones? evil nasty people.
@@justinshepard9352 I wish werewolves were actually a thing in real life. Unfortunately, science hasn't gotten that far
Try reintroduction but ok
I’m fine as long as you let us hunt them. A nice wolf pelt would look great next to my Hawaiian Boar jaws.