Hackles have been raised in the wolf wars of America’s west

THE NEXT BATTLE in America’s wolf wars is beginning. In 2020, Coloradans voted to reintroduce grey wolves to their state by the end of 2023. That may sound innocuous, but even wolves cannot avoid partisan politics. Republican states—such as Wyoming, Idaho and Montana—view them as a threat to ranchers, and see laws protecting them as government overreach. Liberal states, such as Colorado, view their reintroduction as an important conservation measure, and atonement for their near-eradication in the region during the 19th and 20th centuries. Those political differences could spell trouble for Colorado’s wolves when they arrive. Any that stray into unfriendly territory could be killed. Donald Trump removed grey wolves from the endangered-species list in 2020. That won’t stop Colorado, but expect howls of rage from western Republicans in 2023 if the Biden administration decides to reverse that move. ■