2nd Ballot Initiative to Stop Wolves Submitted

Colorado Advocates for Smart Wolf Policy to File Second Ballot Initiative Ending Wolf Reintroductions by 2026

Denver, CO — September 12, 2025 — Colorado Advocates for Smart Wolf Policy (CASWP) announced today that it will begin the ballot title setting process on Friday, September 12, to again circulate petitions for a statewide initiative to be placed on the November 2026 General Election Ballot that would end gray wolf reintroductions no later than December 31, 2026.

The proposed statutory change amends Colorado law to require that while the state continues its current reintroduction efforts, all further wolf importations must stop by the end of 2026

Why Now?

1. Exploding Costs When voters narrowly passed Proposition 114 in 2020, official projections pegged the cost of wolf reintroduction at about $800,000 per year. A recent analysis by the Common Sense Institute shows that Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has already spent over $3 million in a single fiscal year and expects similar overruns in years ahead. These expenditures are straining an already challenged state budget and diverting funds from schools, infrastructure, and healthcare.

2. CPW Killing Imported Wolves The original promise of Proposition 114 was ecological restoration. Instead, CPW has repeatedly resorted to lethal management—shooting wolves it imported after conflicts with livestock. This undermines both conservation ethics and public trust, raising the question: why spend millions bringing wolves to Colorado only to destroy them?

A Smarter Path Forward

The ballot measure would not remove wolves already on the ground but would end costly and destructive reintroductions after 2026. This approach balances voter intent with fiscal responsibility and the realities of CPW’s current management failures.

Next Steps

• September 12, 2025: Smart Wolf Policy will file draft ballot language with Colorado’s Legislative Council staff.

• Following approval by the Title Board, petitions will be circulated statewide to secure ballot placement.

• In the coming months, CASWP will engage ranchers, conservationists, taxpayers and concerned citizens to rally behind and fund this common-sense reform.

About Colorado Advocates for Smart Wolf Policy Colorado Advocates for Smart Wolf Policy is a grassroots coalition committed to balancing wildlife restoration with fiscal responsibility, rural livelihoods, and transparent governance. We support smart, science-based approaches that respect both Colorado’s ecosystems and its taxpayers.

Get involved with and support the campaign at HOME | Smartwolfpolicyco.com | Colorado | Wild Life

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