US judge to weigh cattle industry request to halt Colorado wolf reintroduction

By MATTHEW BROWN
Associated Press

A federal judge has heard arguments from Colorado’s cattle industry to block the impending reintroduction of gray wolves to the state under a voter-approved ballot initiative. U.S. District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez heard arguments during a Thursday hearing in Denver. State wildlife officials plan to capture up to 10 wolves from Oregon and begin releasing them in Colorado by Dec. 31. The animals would be among the first gray wolves in Colorado in decades. Livestock groups fear the animals will attack cattle and sheep. They filed a lawsuit Monday to halt the releases. They claim federal officials did not adequately review the state’s plan.