CPW Director Resigns Amid Controversy Over Wolf Program

BREAKING: Jeff Davis, the director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), resigned on November 22, 2023, to avoid being fired, according to newly obtained settlement documents. This urgent development comes amid growing tensions surrounding the state’s controversial wolf reintroduction program.

Documents reveal that Davis’s resignation was effective as of December 1, with him placed on paid leave beginning November 21. In a surprising turn, he has transitioned to a new role as a senior policy advisor under Dan Gibbs, executive director of the Department of Natural Resources, which oversees CPW. Davis is expected to serve in this new capacity until May 15, 2024.

This shakeup follows a difficult tenure for Davis, who was hired only in April 2023. His leadership has been marked by the implementation of the wolf reintroduction program, a highly contentious initiative approved by Colorado voters in 2020. While the program aims to restore the native wolf population, it has faced fierce opposition from ranching groups and rural communities. So far, CPW has released 25 wolves into the state, intensifying the debate.

“We are delighted that Jeff is voluntarily choosing to stay with DNR in a new capacity,” department officials stated, highlighting Davis’s expertise in wildlife management.

The settlement agreement stipulates that Davis will not pursue legal action against the state, but it does not elaborate on the reasons behind the push for his termination. Following his resignation, Major General Laura Clellan has been appointed as interim CPW director until a permanent replacement is found. Clellan previously led the Colorado National Guard and the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

The Department of Natural Resources emphasized the need for strategic priorities, stating that the repurposed position for Davis aims to address an increase in workload related to biodiversity, tribal engagement, and climate resilience. “The addition of more time-sensitive high-priority projects necessitates additional support for senior leadership,” the department noted.

This latest development is crucial for Coloradans who have been closely monitoring the wolf reintroduction program and its implications for local ecosystems and agriculture. As the situation unfolds, stakeholders are urged to remain vigilant for updates on both the program and CPW’s leadership changes.

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