[REVISION HISTORY]

Colorado gray wolf livestock conflict

3 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-10 10:15 UTC → 2026-10-14 19:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.

Versions

Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.