Joint Committee Committee on Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources (03/30/2005)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:	03/30/2005	ATTENDANCE

Time:	07:35 AM to 08:41 AM	Brophy
		Entz
Place:	HCR 0112	Gallegos
		Groff
This Meeting was called to order by		Grossman
	Senator Isgar	Harvey
		Hillman
This Report was prepared by		Hodge
	David Beaujon	Hoppe
		McFadyen
		McKinley
		Penry
		Rose
		Solano
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Lynx Management Issues		Briefing

07:35 AM -- Lynx Reintroduction Program Update

Jeff Ver Steeg, Division of Wildlife (DOW), described Colorado's lynx reintroduction program that began in 1999 (Attachment A). He also described the decline of the natural lynx population and the federal listing of the lynx as an endangered species in 1999. The DOW created the reintroduction program, in part, to help the state avoid more onerous regulation under the federal Endangered Species Act. He explained the DOW has released 166 lynx in Colorado. Of these, 61 have died and 23 are missing. The DOW is currently tracking 80 reintroduced lynx. Mr. Ver Steeg identified lynx reproduction by year and identified mortality factors including cars and poaching. He explained that the DOW has determined that the reintroduced lynx prefer den sites on steep slopes and downed timber in areas away from competing land uses such as ski areas, cattle grazing, and hunting. Approximately $2 million has been spent on the DOW's reintroduction program, primarily using moneys from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and private donations.

08:06 AM

Discussion followed about federal efforts to designate the lynx critical habitat and the DOW's need to publish its research on the lynx including its habitat.

08:20 AM -- Wildlife Damage Control

Claude Oleyar, Colorado Wildlife Control Operators Association (CWCOA), described the growth of urban wildlife and its impact on communities (Attachment B). He explained that humans have introduced many species into Colorado including red foxes and described the damage caused by coyotes, deer, beaver, and Canada geese. He also described mission of the CWCOA the effect of Amendment 14 that limits methods of trapping animals. Mr. Oleyar proposed amending the law to allow nonlicensed professional animal control operators to use certain methods of control.

08:39 AM

In response to question from the committee, Bruce McCloskey, DOW Director, explained that the DOW does not relocate nuisance coyotes due to the potential impact on other land owners near the relocation site.

08:41 AM

The meeting adjourned.