Colorado Parks and Wildlife Defends Charges Against Hunter Who Killed Wolf in January, Amid Concerns of Leniency

Wildlife commissioner pushes for tougher penalties after hunter accidentally kills Colorado wolf

Colorado wildlife officials on Wednesday revisited the agency’s handling of violations involving protected species, prompting renewed debate over whether current penalties are sufficient.

CPW defends citation for hunter who mistook collared wolf for coyote

Opponents call the punishment “paltry.” “We are concerned that ‘misidentification’ is now the sly way to get away with killing wolves,” Rob Edward, president of Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, said.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife defends charges against hunter who killed wolf in January, amid concerns of leniency

In early August, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced that a licensed hunter had killed a gray wolf in January after reportedly mistaking it for a coyote. The hunter was leveled with a $139.50 fine and some suspension points on his hunting license. The disciplinary action was criticized by wildlife and wolf advocates, who expressed concerns that it was not a harsh enough punishment to disincentivize individuals from killing gray wolves in the f…