Description: Challenge to the environmental review for the predator damage management program for Colorado.
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WildEarth Guardians v. Wehner
Case Documents:
Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary 03/10/2021 Order Download Petition for review denied. Federal Court Upheld NEPA Review of Colorado Predator Management Program. The federal district court for the District of Colorado found that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service–Wildlife Services (Wildlife Services) took a hard look at the impacts of continuing its Colorado branch’s predator damage management program. The court noted that the program is intended to reduce conflicts with predators such as bears and coyotes that impact livestock, agricultural and natural resources, property, and human and health safety. One of the arguments rejected by the court was that Wildlife Services relied on inaccurate data in assessing impacts on black bear and coyote populations, including by failing to analyze human population growth and climate change as factors contributing to increased levels of black bear and human conflicts in Colorado. The court found that the review of these factors was sufficient.