Colorado's wolf reintroduction faces new setback as male dies after capture
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A captive wolf stands inside its enclosure at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center in Divide. Photo: Jason Connolly/AFP via Getty Images
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is advancing plans to reintroduce up to 15 wolves in the state by next March despite ongoing controversies and significant challenges surrounding the voter-approved plan.
The latest: The agency on Monday announced the capture of Colorado's first pair of mating gray wolves and their four pups — known as the Copper Creek pack — after the animals were linked to nearby livestock attacks this spring.
- However, the adult male, found underweight and with leg injuries — died from an infection unrelated to the recent trapping operation, officials said.
- CPW director Jeff Davis said the male wolf would have faced permanent captivity due to his history of livestock depredation had he survived.
State of play: The remaining Copper Creek pack has been relocated to an undisclosed private facility with limited human interaction.
- CPW plans to release them back into the wild once the pups are grown and can be collared.
By the numbers: Two of the 10 wolves that were reintroduced in Colorado last December have died. The first, a juvenile male, was likely killed by a mountain lion.
What they're saying: The relocation timing was crucial as pups are beginning to hunt with adults, and officials wanted to prevent them from targeting livestock, Davis explained.
- This "very, very unique situation" required an equally "unique response" to give the pups a "second chance in the wild," he added.
The other side: Wildlife groups have criticized the relocation plan, calling it politically driven and potentially deadly for the Copper Creek pack's pups.
- They point to research that shows breaking up a pack can lead to higher mortality and doesn't necessarily reduce livestock conflicts.
- Animal rights advocates are urging the state to require ranchers to use non-lethal coexistence measures and release the pack into the wild as soon as possible.
What's next: CPW officials feel "confident" about releasing more wolves in the future and are close to an agreement for sourcing the next group of wolves, they told Axios Denver.
- The question now is where these wolves will be placed. Officials are keeping that under wraps but promise to engage with local leaders and landowners before any releases.
The big picture: Colorado's current plan is to reintroduce 10 to 15 wolves a year on the Western Slope until reaching a maximum of 50 as part of the voter-approved initiative.