ICYMI: Colorado Gov. Passes New Wildlife Laws
In June 2023, Gov. Jared Polis (CO) signed more than twenty bills aimed at addressing climate change in June 2023. This year, he signed two new bills to promote sustainability and protect wildlife in Colorado.
1. Invertebrates & Rare Plants Parks & Wildlife Commission
HB24-1117, signed 17 May 2024
Photo Credit: Animalia
“Colorado is home to over 1,000 species of bees, nearly 300 species of butterflies, and many lesser known pollinators and invertebrates. These animals play a vital role in sustaining the state’s alpine wildflower meadows that support recreation and tourism and they underpin Colorado’s thriving agriculture” (Xerces Society)
Before this bill was passed, Colorado did not clearly designate invertebrates as wildlife or grant management authority to any state agency; however, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) now has the authority to conserve and study invertebrates, and will be provided funding specifically intended for invertebrate research and conservation.
2. Restoration of Wolverines
SB24-171, signed 20 May 2024
Photo Credit: Jonathan Othén, Wikimedia Commons
Following the reintroduction of wolves, and the listing of the wolverine as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) last year, Colorado is set to reintroduce wolverines next.
This bill, SB24-171, sets three main requirements for reintroducing wolverines:
Wolverines must remain on the list of threatened or endangered species under the ESA, AND must be reintroduced to Colorado under ESA section 10(j), which designates reintroduced wildlife as a nonessential experimental population and provides more management flexibility*.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) must create a reintroduction plan for wolverines.
This plan must include a system to compensate ranchers for livestock killed by wolverines.
It is unclear whether the general population in Colorado will vote on wolverine reintroduction, although we can likely expect a public comment session as reintroduction efforts progress - this could still take years.
*Colorado wolves were also reintroduced under ESA section 10(j).
