SB24-171: Restoration of the North American Wolverine

• Authorizes Colorado's Division of Parks and Wildlife to reintroduce the North American wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) in the state, with approximately 300-400 currently existing in the lower 48 states.

• Reintroduction cannot begin until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues a final rule designating reintroduced Colorado wolverines as a nonessential experimental population under the Endangered Species Act.

• Requires the division to develop a North American wolverine restoration plan and a communications plan outlining how stakeholders and county commissioners will be informed about proposed releases.

• Mandates adoption of rules providing fair compensation to livestock owners for losses caused by wolverines, using existing claim procedures, with funds drawn from the wildlife cash fund but excluding hunting and fishing license revenue.

• Appropriates $750,000 from the Species Conservation Trust Fund for fiscal year 2024-25 to implement and administer the program, plus $102,808 from the wildlife cash fund for operations and an additional 0.8 FTE position.