Colorado Wolf Reintroduction Timeline

Colorado Wolf Reintroduction Timeline

Collected by Natalie Hannemann

January 2024

2023

2021

1940 - January 2020

April 2024

November 2020

2023 cont'

2022

Colorado Wolf Reintroduction Timeline

Collected by Natalie Hannemann

3/10 Introduced Wolves are Deceased

A Death in the Family

Pups on Video!

First Wolf Fatality

Plans with Canada

June 2024

The Relocation of Copper Creek

Meanwhile...in Washignton

Colorado Wolf Reintroduction Timeline

Collected by Natalie Hannemann

Colorado Wolf Management Plan PDF

Pup #5 on its Own

Additional Readings

Pup #5

Helpful YouTube Playlist

The Public's Concern

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Website

Sources

Washington12:

In a letter dated June 6th, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Nation in Washington state (whom origionally agreed to send 15 additional wolves to Colorado) rescinded their offer. The main reason was cited as the lack of agreement between the state and the native Southern Utes peoples. Concerns from the tribe on the wolf reintroduction started all the way back in 2020 with the rescindence letter being withheld from the public until August.

Read more here -->

CPW Website:

20211:

Lone Wolf 2101 joined Lone Wolf F1084. In June it was confirmed that the pair had 6 pups and was the first breeding pair in the state in decades. In December, the first livestock depredation event occured in Jackson County.

Wolf Activity Maps and More1:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife annouced plan to release maps every month detailing wolf location and movement data on all 12 collared wolves in the state in an effort to communicate wolf whereabouts with the general public. They also annouced the securing of 15 additional wolves from Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington state. The wolves were set to be captured in December of 2024 and March 2025 and released during the same periods.

Link to current wolf activity maps:

June 21st: State officials confirmed the birth of at least one wolf pup in Grand County. The birth was expected as the collar of one of the released females went silent in April, indicating she had moved into a den. The birth of pups qulified this group of wolves as a pack, earning the name "Copper Creek Pack".

June 20247:

April 2nd: gray wolves reportedly killed a calf in Grand county, marking the first livestock depredation case since wolves were first reintroduced to the state. April 17th: 4 additional cattle were killed by wolves over the course of a week in Grand County. All cattle were yearlings with the first 3 attacks reported April 17th and an additional attack reported the day after. All livestock owners were encouraged to apply for up to $15,000 in reimbursement from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

April 20243,4,5:

In late September, a petition signed by around 24 agriculture and livestock organizations called for a halt in all wolf reintroduction efforts until more livestock depredation prevention strategies were studied, researched, and funded in full. In early October, Colorado Counties, Inc. (which has membership in every county except Denver) sided with the petition, citing a rushed introduction timeline and lack of communication/education with at risk stakeholders as a reason for halting any additional introductions.

The Public's Concern16,17:

More Information

Additional Readings:

Linked are 2 research papers that examine public perspectives and factors that influenced voting outcomes with Proposition 114:

Pups on Video!8:

Video released on August 19th from Colorado Parks and Wildlife shows new pups of the Copper Creek Pack playing. The video confirms there are at least 3 pups in that years litter with the pack living in Grand County near Kremmling. At this time, there have been 24 cases of livestock depredation by the released wolves (15 cattle and 9 sheep) with 7 of the depradations occuring at a ranch owned by Conway Farrell.

The Relocation of the Copper Creek Pack9:

A week after wildlife officials annouced the generation of the Copper Creek Pack, plans were made to capture and relocate the pack after repeated livestock depredations. This action goes against previous statements in the wolf management plan origionally released in 2023. Lethal removal was expressed to not be an option due to the small population in Colorado. Also, it was indicated that relocation would not be the standard procedure for potential future livestock conflict.

20221:

A second livestock depredation occured in Jacskon County. Due to this, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission allowed livestock owners to haze wolves (not to harm or kill) to prevent injury to livestock. In February, gray wolves were relisted on the federal Endagered Species List.

3/10 Wolves Deceased13:

The third wolf to die from the original 10 introduced wolves died in September in Grand County. The male wolf's mortality signal was reported September 9th with the death being confirmed in the days afterward. No cause of death was reported by state agencies. This death occured days after the death of the Copper Creek pack's breeding male.

YouTube Playlist:

Linked below is a playlist of YouTube videos featuring Colorado Parks and Wildlife meetings, recorded livestreams, news clips and more that provide additional explanation for already outlined topics and insight into outreach and policy.

20231:

From 2022 through the end of 2023, wolves were the cause of 20 instances of livestock injury or death on several ranches throughout Jackson County. In May, the final Wolf Management and Restoration Plan was approved by Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, allowing for wolves to be reintroduced to the western half of the state. In September the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the establishment of an experimental population of gray wolves in Colorado under 10(j) of the Endangered Species act. This designation allows for more flexibility in terms of management with livestock depredations and provided more authority to native tribal communities.

While officials initially believed all members of the Copper Creek Pack were captured, game cameras left in the packs original area revealed a pup, thought to be the 5th pup from the pack, on September 20th. Colorado Parks and Wildlife offcials thus began capture operations again to try and capture the last remaining member of the pack. Once the pup is captured, it will join the rest of its litter mates and mother until winter when they will be re-released.

Pup #515:

Pup #5 on its Own18:

After a 3 week capture effort, state officials suspended looking for the fifth pup (now 6 months old) from the Copper Creek Pack. This change is due to the dropping temperatures which make transporting the wolf pup unsafe. While they are suspending active efforts, game cameras will still be monitored for possible activity and officials ask the general public to notify them of any sightings of the pup.

One of the wolves initally released in December of 2023 was found dead on April 18th, 2024. The wolf was found in Larimer County and U.S. Fish and Wildlife said the death was likely because of natural causes. Some reports say the cause of death was likely an attack by a mountain lion.

First Wolf Fatality6,11:

In mid September the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission annouced their partnership with British Columbia to bring 15 wolves to Colorado in December 2024 and March 2025. This is in accordance with the states wolf restoration plan which outlines winter releases of 10-15 wolves over the next 3-5 years until the target population of 50 wolves is reached in the state. Like with the Oregon wolves, Colorado will be responsible for all costs associated with this effort.

Plans with Canada14:

1940: Wolves are entirely extirpated from the state of Colorado.2016: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission released a statement opposing the purposeful release of wolves back into the state. July 2019: Lone Wolf F1084 established residency within the state. January of 2020: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission confirms a wolf pack living in the northwest portion of the state.

Background Information1:

A Death in the Family10:

All the individuals of the Copper Creek Pack were captured over several days. The adult female of the pack was the first to be captured on August 24th with the adult male being captured on the 30th. It is thought that the male was responsible for the repeated depredations. The male was captured with several injuries and ultimatley died September 3rd. 4 pups that were born into the pack this year were captured, concluding the capture effort. Colorado Parks and Wildlife plan on holding the wolves until the pups are able to hunt on their own. Under the reintroduction guidelines, the male would not have been able to be released if it had survived.

2023 cont'1:

Idaho, Wyoming, and Montanta all refused Colorado's request to be the source population of wolves. In October, Oregan Department of Fish and Wildlife agreed to provide Colorado with 10 wolves. The first 5 wolves of the reintroduction effort were released December 18th. 5 more were released December 22nd. All 10 were released in Grand and Summit counties. Of the 10, 6 were female and 4 were male.

In summer of 2019, the Rocky Mountain Wolf Action Fund petittioned Colorado voters to place the restoration of gray wolves on the ballot. 215,370 signatures were submitted and the proposition was placed on the November 2020 ballot. The Proposition passed with 50 .91% in favor, and 49 .09% opposed. Reintroductions had to occur by December 31st, 2023.

Proposition 1142:

Sources:

The link below goes to a Google Doc with all source articles.

Wolf Management Plan PDF:

Linked is the full Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan. This document is also linked in the "Sources" document.