Colorado hunter killed endangered gray wolf by mistake

A licensed hunter killed a female gray wolf in Colorado on January 16, mistaking the animal for a coyote. A joint investigation by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed the cause of death.

While killing gray wolves is illegal under state and federal law, CPW stated they are not pursuing further charges against the hunter. The individual was cited for violating agency regulations but was credited for the “ethical choice to immediately report the incident and take responsibility for the accident,” according to Ty Petersburg, CPW Chief of Law Enforcement.

The deceased wolf, tagged as 2504, was part of a group of 15 wolves brought to Colorado from British Columbia in January 2025. Since the state began its wolf reintroduction efforts in 2023, several wolves have died due to human actions, including vehicle collisions and livestock protection measures, alongside deaths from predator fights.