Colorado officials are resisting a new wolf policy, reports ABC News. The federal government is expanding plans to restore endangered Mexican gray wolves to the Southwest. The attempt to import the predators has now spread to Colorado. About 110 Mexican gray wolves already roam portions of Arizona and New Mexico.
The presence of the animals has been contentious in those states for years. New Mexico is resisting proposals to release more wolves. And Arizona lawmakers have failed in requests to allow ranchers to kill federally protected wolves in self-defense.
Meanwhile, environmental groups are pushing for the release of more captive-bred wolves across the Southwest. Opponents insist that wolves inflict costly and cruel losses on cattle and sheep. Advocates say the fears are overblown. They claim wolves need more space to avoid extinction.
