CO wolf ban ballot initiative. Is overturning ballot box biology by a ballot initiative still ballot box biology or the opposite?

[elkduds]

2026 ballot measure that would overturn Colorado wolf reintroduction clears first hurdle

Colorado Advocates for Smart Wolf Policy want to ask voters to stop wolf reintroduction work at the end of 2026.

coloradosun.com

 

[Mallardsx2]

Let’s be honest, the same people that voted for wolves are going to vote for them again and the same people that voted against them are going to vote against them again.l and the same people who refused to vote (because they believe that their vote doesn’t count) are going to sit in their freaking chairs and not get out and vote.

I think we know which one of those groups has gotten bigger within the state.

 

[Sytes]

Let’s be honest, the same people that voted for wolves are going to vote for them again and the same people that voted against them are going to vote against them again.l and the same people who refused to vote (because they believe that their vote doesn’t count) are going to sit in their freaking chairs and not get out and vote.

I think we know which one of those groups has gotten bigger within the state.

I disagree. Collectively, we (State and nationally) countered the "Cats aren't trophies" ballot agenda - part II.

As for whether it's playing the same ballot box biology or not, No. Not IMO. It is clearing metropolitan market signature impressions and reverting it to the actual biology based CPW responsibility.

 

[LuketheDog]

It's the opposite of ballot box biology. This new initiative is not trying to remove wolves from landscape, just force better management now that we're stuck with them. Why do the pro-wolf folks get to make the rules and then cry foul when someone else plays by them too? I think they're afraid the general public in Colorado may not be quite as gullible as they were the first time around. And as I recall, democrat politicians in this state have shot down every recent movement to ban ballot initiatives, hopefully it will at least start to bite them in the rear.

This quote from the Sun article illustrates the problem with the pro-wolf tribe, and why they're losing support:
“This is so petty,” said Rob Edward with the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, which is raising money this month to help purchase fladry, lights and trail cameras to help ranchers better protect livestock. “This extremist group could spend a million or more helping ranchers adapt to wolves on the ground. Instead they are going to throw money down that hole and stir people’s confusion about what’s going on with wolves. The fact is the Colorado wolf program is, bar none, a great example of good state wildlife management.”

If you follow the link^ in the Sun article it just goes to a page asking for money, nothing about "helping ranchers", and if you follow that to RMWP page they're just trying to raise money to pay $50,000 rewards for information about a wolf that was shot.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

Wow. “Great example of good wildlife management”. He can’t be serious. Even folks who supported Prop 114 will admit that it has been a complete debacle. And not CPW’s fault either. Reality is the wolf proponents haven’t held up their end of the bargain and are not providing the funding for the continued reintroduction and depredation compensation. Sen. Jeff Bridges and his cronies are now looking to divert revenue from hunting and license sales to the wolf program. Something they said they wouldn’t do during the last session. My understanding of this Prop is that it would end any further reintroduction efforts, allowing the existing wolves to expand into suitable habitat and CPW to manage that existing population of wolves. Really a reasonable compromise in my eyes.

 

[tormenter]

Let’s be honest, the same people that voted for wolves are going to vote for them again and the same people that voted against them are going to vote against them again.l and the same people who refused to vote (because they believe that their vote doesn’t count) are going to sit in their freaking chairs and not get out and vote.

I think we know which one of those groups has gotten bigger within the state.

Mallard - I guarantee you that rural Colorado voters will come out in full force unlike they did when this ballot issue was out. Additionally, the whole public is now seeing how jacked up the implementation plan was and is along with the lack of transparency along with the unplanned costs of this disastrous rollout of wolves and lies by the CPW and the Polis team.

I believe this would easily pass now and needs to be on the ballot.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

The other reasonable option might be Colorado legislators freeze general funds for wolf reintroduction and tell CPW to pause any further reintroductions efforts. With a major state budget deficit, it would seem quite ridiculous to divert funds away from public schools, roads, and healthcare to continue this wolf misadventure. But the controlling interests in the General Assembly are pretty extreme these days and the wolf folks have huge amounts of influence compared to everyday Coloradans.

 

[TheGreek]

Colorado Parks and Wildlife to pay 2 Grand County ranchers nearly $350K for wolf-related losses

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission approved nearly $350,000 in compensation to two Grand County ranchers who suffered livestock losses relating to wolves last year. The claims included a $287,407.63 payment to Farrell Livestock LLC...

www.steamboatpilot.com

 

[LuketheDog]

The other reasonable option might be Colorado legislators freeze general funds for wolf reintroduction and tell CPW to pause any further reintroductions efforts. With a major state budget deficit, it would seem quite ridiculous to divert funds away from public schools, roads, and healthcare to continue this wolf misadventure. But the controlling interests in the General Assembly are pretty extreme these days and the wolf folks have huge amounts of influence compared to everyday Coloradans.

It's becoming abundantly clear that everyday Coloradans are the last thing our state politicians care about. Like you said-witness the deteriorating condition of our roads and infrastructure, many underperforming public school districts, increasing crime rates, homelessness, and drug use, the highest inflation in the nation, and skyrocketing taxes...but hey, let's spend millions of dollars on reintroducing wolves that were already introducing themselves naturally for free! Maybe some of that wolf money could be better used to hire out of work USFS staff?

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

Let’s be honest, the same people that voted for wolves are going to vote for them again and the same people that voted against them are going to vote against them again.l and the same people who refused to vote (because they believe that their vote doesn’t count) are going to sit in their freaking chairs and not get out and vote.

I think we know which one of those groups has gotten bigger within the state.

Maybe, but if enough effort and strategy is put forth as was done with prop 127 maybe minds will change. Could be worth a shot

 

[bayoublaster7527]

Staring down a $1 billion state budget deficit, I believe most reasonable Coloradans would agree that money should not be diverted from roads, schools, healthcare, affordable housing, and public safety in order to continue this special interest driven science experiment of wolf reintroduction.

 

[Deleted member 27192]

Colorado gray wolf shot, killed by Wildlife Services in Wyoming after it was found near 5 sheep kills

A gray wolf brought to Colorado from Canada as part of the second round of reintroductions was killed in Wyoming after it was found close to a property where multiple sheep were killed.

www.denver7.com

Crossed over the wrong border and FAFO'd. Im surprised the rancher even called .

 

[Browning55]

Unfortunately this ballot measure does nothing and is going to be a lot of money and effort wasted to just delay the inevitable. There are much greater fights that sportsmen need to be engaged in like initiative 52

The facts are the smart wolf policy proponents do not have the money to wage this fight and need the support of both sportsmen and ag groups. None of which they currently have. For one Rocky Mountain Elk foundation while supportive of this groups intent, can not be the funding of this ballot measure. The AG groups simply don’t have the money to do this and most major organizations have not even given support.

This is a an uphil battle for them.

Finally what does this even do, sure it puts an end date but the polis admin will just front load wolves in 2025. Regardless of outcome the very real scenario is that 40-60 wolves will be on ground (just like Idaho in 90s) and there will be no management strategy statewide or at Comission level. This ballot measure does nothing to change that.

In fact the real problem is wasting time and effort and money on this pointless ballot measure and then loosing rhe 52 ballot fight. If we lose that it won’t matter what happens with wolves, all predators will be defined as keystone species and Cpw/hunting will be dismantled.

 

[TheGreek]

Colorado gray wolf shot, killed by Wildlife Services in Wyoming after it was found near 5 sheep kills

A gray wolf brought to Colorado from Canada as part of the second round of reintroductions was killed in Wyoming after it was found close to a property where multiple sheep were killed.

www.denver7.com

Crossed over the wrong border and FAFO'd. Im surprised the rancher even called .

Hell, a fed killed it.