Some reintroduced wolves in Colorado have history of attacking livestock
A recent effort to re-populate wolves in Colorado has resulted in some wolves with a history of attacking livestock being released into the state.
Wolves from Oregon with history of attacks on livestock released in Colorado
As part of an effort to re-populate wolves in Colorado, 10 wolves were released in the state. However, it has been discovered that half of these wolves were obtained from Oregon wolfpacks that had a history of attacking livestock.
These attacks, referred to as "depredations", were recorded by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. In 2023, there were 114 incidents resulting in injury or death to sheep and cattle in the state. These records have been kept since 2011.
Details of the wolves released in Colorado
The wolves selected for transport to Colorado were from various packs in Oregon. They include both yearlings and adults, with weights ranging from 66 to 108 lbs. The wolves came from packs named Five Points, Noregaard, Wenaha, and Desolation.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife released these wolves onto public land in Grand County, Colorado, with the hope of re-establishing a wolf population in the state.
Concerns and precautions taken by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
The Five Points pack, from which some of the wolves were selected, had a history of attacks on livestock. However, four wolves from this pack were "lethally removed" in response to the predations in July 2023.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife drew a line when selecting which packs to obtain wolves from, considering the packs' predisposition for repeated attacks. They also took into account the age of the wolves, with the belief that younger animals may not have imprinted the behavior of hunting livestock.
The reintroduction effort in Colorado is the first step in a program approved by the state's voters in 2021. The goal is to reach a population of at least 50 wolves in four consecutive winters before considering de-listing them as threatened and endangered.
