There is big news in the Rockies: Colorado is gearing up to reintroduce wolverines. Aspen and the surrounding area have been included in one of three planned release zones for these elusive, snow-dwelling carnivores—relatives of the same species that elusively roam Montana’s high country. The plan is to drop 10 to 15 wolverines into each zone per year over three years, mostly females, since they stick closer to home. It is a hands-on effort—necessary because wolverines don’t tend to wander far, and only one has made it into Colorado from as far north as Grand Teton in over a century. The reintroduction could start as early as late 2027, with animals likely sourced from Canada, where habitat and predators match up closely with conditions here in Montana. With most of the habitat at 10,000 feet and above—and 95% of it on public lands. For those of us here in Montana who already share space with these mountain ghosts, it is worth watching how Colorado navigates bringing them home.
Read the full story in the Aspen Times.
