Colorado’s 13 nonprofit wildlife sanctuaries, which rescue big cats, bears and wolves, would be required to have closure plans and bonds under a proposed state regulation.
The Colorado Wildlife Commission meets today in Grand Junction to consider the rule, which state officials say is designed to protect hundreds of animals in sanctuaries struggling during lean economic times.
“Our biggest concern is for wildlife,” said commission chairman Tom Burke. “They don’t have the ability to fend for themselves.”
Operators of wildlife sanctuaries say the regulation could close facilities because of the costs of bonds – estimated to require $100,000 in collateral.
“It’s ironic that they are pushing a closure plan that could end up closing facilities,” said Pat Craig, director of The Wild Animal Sanctuary south of Keenesburg.
Craig’s sanctuary, with 150 large carnivores, is the biggest in the country, with lions, tigers, bears, jaguars, leopards, lynx and wolves, he said.
The 27-year-old facility, with an annual budget of $1 million, struggled over the past few years when donations dropped about 50 percent. Craig said he considered closing and euthanizing most of the animals.
The threat of the nation’s biggest large-carnivore sanctuary closing alarmed state officials.
“That brought to our attention that we need a plan in place for public safety and we need to know how we could fund this if one of these closes,” said Tyler Baskfield, Colorado Division of Wildlife spokesman.
Baskfield said that as other states strengthen their rules on owning wildlife, Colorado facilities are getting more animals.
From January 2004 to September 2006, 75 big cats were imported to Colorado – 60 to Craig’s facility, according to state records.
Craig’s facility in the past year has imported two African lions and one tiger, state records show.
Big Cats of Serenity Springs, near Calhan, got 20 big cats from 2004 to 2006, and two lions, two leopards, five cougars and five tigers in the past year.
Craig said he is constantly asked by authorities to take in more animals.
He said he refuses, adding that he turned down six requests in the past week.
In the state’s proposed rule change, which will be voted on in July, facilities would have to write closure plans, including provisions for the care and ultimate disposition of all animals within 60 days of closing.
A third party would have to be hired to close the facility. And all facilities would need closure bonds, which Craig said would require full collateral of up to $100,000.
“That’s tough,” Craig said. “We’re trying to make it every year on our budget. We spend $6,000 a week on meat alone. And that doesn’t count the bears.”
Frank Wendland, owner of WOLF sanctuary, near Fort Collins, said his insurance company also told him the bond would cost $100,000.
He cares for 42 wolves at two facilities with an annual operating budget of $400,000 a year from donations. He said his facility had trouble getting donations but hasn’t considered closing.
“The bottom line on all of this is when they go in and require a bond like this, they will be closing these sanctuaries,” said Wendland. “That money isn’t there. We couldn’t afford that. Absolutely not.”
Currently, Burke said any costs involved in a closure would come out of the DOW budget.
“We appreciate what these folks are doing,” he said. “We just want to make sure that if they can’t stay in business, they don’t mail the keys to someone saying, ‘See you later.”‘
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer can be reached at 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
