Parks and Wildlife’s Decision to Lethally Remove Gray Wolf Deemed ‘Very Difficult’

Colorado Parks and Wildlife lethally eliminated a member of the Copper Creek Wolf Pack in Pitkin County. Grey wolf 2405 was eliminated after figuring out livestock producers have been experiencing power wolf depredation regardless of eradicating any attractants able to luring wolves and implementing all affordable non-lethal deterrence measures.

4 depredation occasions have been confirmed between Might 17-25, together with three confirmed by clear and convincing proof. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will proceed to watch the Copper Creek Pack to substantiate whether or not or not the deadly elimination adjustments the pack’s conduct.

“The choice to take deadly administration motion was very tough. Our wildlife biologists and officers constructed a timeline of current occasions that exhibits the depredation conduct met the circumstances for power depredation that have been outlined earlier this yr. We’ve nice respect for these animals and take the elimination of a wolf very significantly. Elimination of drawback animals is unlucky and uncommon, however in line with the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Administration Plan.” – CPW Director Jeff Davis.

CPW defines “power depredation” as three or extra depredation occasions attributable to the identical wolf, wolves, or wolf pack inside a 30-day interval. The group considers 4 elements to find out if a scenario requires deadly elimination, together with whether or not there’s been repeated depredation and harassment of a producer’s livestock or working canine attributable to the wolf, wolves, or pack, whether or not non-lethal battle minimization supplies and methods have been utilized, the chance of further wolf-related depredation persevering with if deadly management is or isn’t carried out, and whether or not or not there’s been the intentional or unintentional use of attractants luring or baiting wolves to the placement.

“We stay dedicated to each wolf restoration and to Colorado’s livestock producers. We’ve been centered on bettering our communication and coordination with the agricultural neighborhood. The producers on this space have been working constructively with CPW on deployment of a number of non-lethal battle mitigation efforts. The intent of this administration motion is to discourage different pack members from unnaturally shifting to livestock as their major supply of meals. This motion will assist be certain that wolves and packs which might be focusing on pure prey function the muse for a sustainable inhabitants. A lot of the wolves within the state are sticking to pure meals sources and avoiding livestock conflicts.” – Jeff Davis

Collar information indicated {that a} grey wolf from the Copper Creek Pack probably injured a calf on non-public property on Might 17, 2026. On Might 23, CPW discovered clear and convincing proof {that a} grey wolf killed a calf on non-public property and cross-referenced collar information indicated that the wolf was from the Copper Creek Pack. On Might 24, one other calf was discovered deceased and one calf was discovered injured. The depredation occasion once more occurred on non-public property and collar information cross-reference indicated {that a} Copper Creek Pack wolf was within the space.

The next day on Might 25, each a calf and a cow have been discovered injured. CPW as soon as once more discovered clear and convincing proof that the incident was attributable to a grey wolf, and collar information cross-reference indicated that wolves from the Copper Creek Pack have been within the space. The incident once more occurred on non-public property.

On Might 25 plans have been made to safe permission from the landowner and safely take away the wolf as quickly as doable.