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6 clusters · 15 sources · 50 days · First seen · Last updated

Colorado gray wolf livestock conflict

Overview

Since the reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado in December 2023, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has engaged in several lethal removals of wolves due to livestock depredation. In early September 2026, CPW killed two male yearlings from the Copper Creek and Three Creeks packs following confirmed attacks on cattle and sheep in Pitkin and Rio Blanco counties. By mid-September, the agency euthanized a female yearling from the One Ear pack in Grand and Jackson counties. This followed a pattern of continued attacks by that specific pack, which had been linked to seven depredation events since an initial removal on August 4. Under a special 10(j) rule from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, CPW is authorized to target “chronically depredating” wolves, defined as those involved in three or more depredation events within 30 days. As of mid-September, the agency has lethally removed a total of six wolves since the reintroduction program began. On September 30, 2026, CPW announced a temporary suspension of its directive regarding the lethal removal of wolves involved in chronic depredation. The agency is shifting to a “case-by-case, conservative approach” to address concerns that population growth might stall before the end of the biological year in March 2027. This shift is driven by concerns regarding the survival of the nascent population, citing potential threats from disease, mortality rates, and uncertainty surrounding future releases. As of September 24, the state’s gray wolf population is estimated at 45 individuals, including 20 pups. While the pup count is a record, officials noted that adult survival for the previous year was 61%, lower than the 75% typically seen in non-hunted populations. Additionally, CPW is investigating reports of hair loss in two northwestern Colorado packs, which biologists believe may be linked to an infectious skin parasite.

Entities

Colorado Parks and Wildlife · Colorado · Jackson County · Laura Clellan · Grand County

Timeline

  1. [CULTURE] 3 sources
    Colorado gray wolf activity expands across Western Slope

    Collared gray wolves in Colorado showed expansive activity across the Western Slope in October, with an estimated population of 45 wolves, including 20 pups born this spring.

  2. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Colorado shifts policy on lethal wolf removals

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife is adopting a case-by-case approach to lethal wolf removals following livestock conflicts, a move welcomed by conservationists amid broader restoration challenges.

  3. [CULTURE] 3 sources
    Colorado shifts wolf management policy amid livestock conflict

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife is adopting a more conservative approach to killing wolves involved in livestock attacks to protect the state's growing gray wolf population from disease and mortality risks.

  4. [CULTURE] 4 sources
    Colorado Parks and Wildlife pauses gray wolf lethal removal directive

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife is pausing its directive for lethal gray wolf removals due to concerns over population growth, low adult survival rates, and a potential infectious skin parasite.

  5. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Colorado Parks and Wildlife euthanizes wolf following livestock attacks

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife euthanized a yearling from the One Ear wolf pack following continued livestock attacks in Grand and Jackson counties, marking the third wolf killed by the agency this week.

  6. [POLITICS] 5 sources
    Colorado Parks and Wildlife kills two wolves following livestock attacks

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife killed two yearling wolves in Pitkin and Rio Blanco counties following multiple confirmed attacks on cattle and sheep.

Sources

alamosacitizen.com · aspentimes.com · bobplaysanything.com · coloradosun.com · craigdailypress.com · freerepublic.com · krdo.com · pagosadailypost.com · skyhinews.com · steamboatpilot.com · steamboattoday.com · stopextinction.org · summitdaily.com · thefencepost.com · VailDaily.com

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history