Former Colorado wildlife director heads to Wyoming

Overview

Jeff Davis, the former director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), is headed to Wyoming to serve as deputy director for Wyoming Game and Fish Department. He will start on Feb. 2, with his last day in Colorado on Jan. 31, per 9News.

Career context

After leaving CPW, Davis was named senior policy advisor for strategic priorities within the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, a role created to guide his transition and paid at the same salary level, $186,470. He reportedly chose to step down rather than be fired, and a settlement signed on Nov. 22 stated he would not sue the natural resources department.

Wolf reintroduction and policy

Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program has generated controversy, including 10 dead wolves (out of the original 25) and more than 80 dead livestock and working dogs, driving costs beyond the voter-approval estimate by a factor of five. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has pressed Colorado to produce documents and narratives back to the first release in December 2023, with potential federal takeover if expectations are not met; the agency highlighted CPW’s decision to import wolves from British Columbia and to relocate a Copper Creek pack wolf into Grand County in December, actions that drew scrutiny under the 10(j) rule and Endangered Species Act.

Settlement, departure, and implications

These developments preceded Davis’s transition to Wyoming, where he will replace Doug Brimeyer, who is retiring as deputy director of Wyoming Game and Fish. Observers say the move reflects ongoing tensions in state wildlife management and the political capital involved in predator management decisions across state lines.

USFWS oversight

The Dec. 18 letter from Brian Nesvik, head of USFWS, warned that if Colorado cannot satisfy the agency, it would assume authority for all gray wolf management activities, including relocation and lethal removal.

What readers should know

For residents and policymakers, the case illustrates how wildlife decisions, funding, and intergovernmental oversight shape predator management. Readers can track updates on CPW, the Wyoming change, and federal oversight as this story evolves.