ROUTT COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said officers had to take lethal action against an uncollared wolf in northern Colorado.<\/p>\n
Wildlife officers said they collected evidence that confirmed that the wolf was connected to multiple livestock killings throughout Rio Blanco County in 2025 and early 2026. <\/p>\n
Since the summer of 2025, CPW said the wolf had been involved in 10 confirmed events involving 22 sheep, with the latest being two in Routt County on June 10 and 11. <\/p>\n
In each event, they said one sheep had confirmed evidence of wolf depredation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe decision to pursue lethal actions is never an easy one but the circumstances around this wolf\u2019s repeated depredation history made this a difficult but necessary decision,\u201d said CPW Director Laura Clellan. \u201cThe producers impacted by these depredations have worked diligently with CPW to identify and deploy all viable and reasonable non-lethal tools and techniques identified through their site assessment and consultation with our field staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officers said they had to take action because the wolf conflicted with multiple minimization efforts by Parks and Wildlife. <\/p>\n
They said they attempted minimization efforts, including conducting a site assessment, deploying range riders, using livestock guardian dogs and scare devices, active human presence from herders and applying for injurious non-lethal hazing permits. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the unanimously adopted Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan calls for 10-15 more wolves to be translocated to Colorado, it also calls for lethal control of chronically depredating wolves,\u201d said Governor Jared Polis. \u201cThis elusive wolf had a number of chances but sadly chose to continue to depredate which necessitated this challenging management decision. Colorado remains committed to recovering and maintaining a viable, self-sustaining wolf population in Colorado, while concurrently working to minimize wolf-related conflicts with domestic animals, with non-lethal means as our priority.\u201d<\/p>\n
They said the wolf was originally a part of the Copper Creek Pack but had not been a part of the pack since June.<\/p>\n
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