In 2023, wolverines won federal protections, gray wolves were reintroduced in Colorado and the Bureau of Land Management announced a draft-management plan for critical Gunnison sage grouse habitat, all species protected under a statute passed by Congress 50 years ago.

Vera Smith, senior federal lands policy analyst for Defenders of Wildlife, said while the primary goal is to avoid Endangered Species Act listings altogether, when scientists do see species in decline, the act is critical for ensuring they get the protections they need to survive and thrive in the future.

"The act is really good at incentivizing that," Smith pointed out. "When species are getting closer to extinction, the act steps in and offers that critical protection and directs resources where they need to go."

Since the 1900s, the Gunnison sage grouse has lost 90% of its sagebrush-sea habitat to human development. Smith said the number of birds known for their iconic mating dance has dropped to just 4,000. The BLM manages 42% of the bird's remaining habitat, and is accepting public comments on its proposal through Feb. 7.

After 20 years of work by conservationists, in November the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to list wolverines as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Fur trapping and poisoning brought the animal to the brink of extinction, and just 300 remain in the lower 48.

Andrea Zaccardi, carnivore conservation program legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said climate change and human disturbance are the two main threats.

"Wolverines need high elevation, large snowpack levels for their denning habitat," Zaccardi explained. "Climate change obviously is reducing the availability of the heavy snowpack in high elevations that wolverines need."

Ryan Sedgeley, southern Rockies field representative for the Endangered Species Coalition, credited the Endangered Species Act for helping gray wolves rebound from near-total extinction in parts of the Northern Rockies and other states. After Colorado voters approved their reintroduction in 2020, 10 wolves were released this December.

"Wolves haven't been in Colorado since the 1940s when they were systematically eradicated," Sedgeley noted. "Restoring the balance to nature, to our ecosystems, is really important."

Today, Oregon conservation groups are headed to the state Capitol for "Wildlife Lobby Day."

The organizations, all part of the Oregon Wildlife Coalition, will meet legislators to advocate for four bills supporting science-based coexistence with wildlife.

Sristi Kamal, deputy director of the Western Environmental Law Center, highlighted the "1% For Wildlife" bill, which would raise the state Transient Lodging Tax by 1% up to 2.5%. Funds would help the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife implement the State Wildlife Action Plan to protect imperiled species and habitats.

Kamal pointed out the plan currently has no funding from the state.

"Even though we have a Democratic majority in our legislature this session, unfortunately, wildlife falls at the bottom of everyone's priority list," Kamal observed.

One bill would help landowners use nonlethal tools to share land with beavers. Another seeks about $1 million to fund four wildlife coexistence biologists, a public education campaign and a grant program for wildlife rehabilitation centers.

Along with supporting four bills, the coalition opposes two bills this session, both focused on carnivore management. One would reimburse ranchers up to five times the market value for livestock killed by wolves, despite Oregon already compensating the full market value.

Kamal noted research shows such payments do not increase tolerance and may have the opposite effect.

"We fear that this will actually increase intolerance for the species and lead to more actions like poaching of wolves," Kamal explained. "Which we are already seeing a significant uptick in the state."

Another bill opposed by the coalition would legalize using hounds to hunt cougars, an idea Kamal argued is inhumane and has already been voted down by Oregonians.

Kamal emphasized the coalition, along with the bills they support, aim to foster coexistence between wildlife and people. She stressed Oregon's policies need to reflect the vital role many species play in supporting ecosystems and humans through climate change and wildfires.


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Colorado lawmakers could add buffalo, also known as bison, to a long list of wildlife that have been restored to their natural habitat across the Centennial State. Senate Bill 25-053 would classify wild roaming buffalo as wildlife, to be managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife the same as deer, elk, moose and other big game species.

Nick Gevoc, Northern Rockies campaign organizing strategist with the Sierra Club, says under current Colorado law, when members of wild buffalo herds from southeastern Utah cross a border they can't see, they are not protected.

"Just a handful, maybe four to six animals a year, are making their way into western Colorado. And those animals are being shot now," he explained. "And they can do that legally because they are not recognized as wildlife in the state of Colorado."

Colorado is seen as a leader in the Rocky Mountain region for restoring wildlife, most recently with the reintroduction of wolves, a move opposed by some cattle producers. Efforts to protect buffalo as wildlife in Montana have been strongly opposed by the livestock industry. Senate Bill 25-053 would protect existing free-range buffalo, and does not direct wildlife managers to bring more animals into Colorado.

Before they were hunted to near extinction in the late 19th century, between 30 million and 60 million buffalo roamed North America. In recent years, efforts by Tribal Nations to recover buffalo as a wildlife species have gained momentum. The keystone species provides food and habitat for birds, insects and small mammals, and increases biodiversity.

"They create little depressions that often store water. They selectively graze on the landscape differently than cattle, they hit some areas harder than others," Gevoc continued. "They tend to stay away from waterways. They bring tremendous ecological benefits to a shortgrass prairie."

Gevoc believes the measure will boost Colorado's economy as people come to the state for a chance to see buffalo, America's national mammal, in the wild.

"They are deeply important to Native American people, and they're a symbol of pride to the people of Colorado and all over the country. We recovered elk, deer, antelope, moose, all kinds of other species. But for some reason we left this one behind," he concluded.

A bill to exempt any Colorado livestock producer's personal information from the Colorado Open Records Act when they collect public dollars for livestock lost to wildlife is swiftly moving through the General Assembly.

Proponents said the law is necessary to prevent potential harassment and scrutiny over how ranchers are working to keep livestock safe from wolves.

Ryan Sedgeley, Southern Rockies field representative for the Endangered Species Coalition, said hiding the names of anyone who receives taxpayer money is not good policy.

"Senate Bill 38 invites the opportunity for fraud and abuse," Sedgeley contended. "Because when there is no accountability or transparency for who's receiving taxpayer money for damage, anybody can take advantage of that."

The measure has cleared the Senate. The House Ag, Livestock and Water Committee is scheduled to hear the bill today. Supporting the bill are 25 registered lobbyists representing livestock interests. The Center for Biological Diversity and Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition are lobbying in opposition.

Sedgeley pointed out most Coloradans support living alongside wolves and have doubled down on financial compensation for lost livestock, especially for family-scale producers. In addition to state and Colorado State University, Sedgeley noted new "Born to be Wild" license plates have already brought in $650,000.

"That directly goes to helping ranchers do this work," Sedgeley emphasized. "We also have a lot of nonprofit partners who are actually out in the field helping ranchers, getting them the materials and supplies they need. And there's a range-riding program that's been stood up."

Sedgeley added the actual threat wolves pose to livestock is very low.

"Less than 1% of cattle mortality is a result of wolves in places where there are actually significant amounts of wolves, like up in the Northern Rockies," Sedgeley observed. "And to put that in context, dogs kill about 11.3%; weather is responsible for 9.3%."