DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife said Friday that it had shot a wolf that was chronically depredating livestock in Rio Blanco County, but has been unable to find its carcass.
The agency also said that after analyzing genetic samples, the at-fault wolf was the fifth Copper Creek yearling who was not successfully captured with the rest of the pack in fall 2024. The wolf is suspected to have attacked and killed — or depredated — six animals from livestock producers in the area.
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Wolf depredations in the area started on July 20 when a lamb was killed by a wolf, according to CPW’s depredation information list. Further attacks were reported on July 22, Aug. 2 and Aug. 16 in the county.
Wildfires in the area delayed CPW’s ability to lethally remove the wolf, CPW announced on Aug. 5, which allowed another depredation event on Aug. 16, in which three lambs were killed.
Because this wolf was born in the wild and not captured by CPW last year, when the agency relocated the pack after repeated depredations at nearby ranches, the wolf is not wearing a GPS collar. CPW said the lack of GPS coordinates hampered its removal efforts, but on Aug. 16, CPW staff used thermal optics to locate the wolf and shot it once with a .25-06 rifle.
“Division and Wildlife Services staff immediately searched for the wolf, but were unable
to locate it,” CPW reported.
The agency brought dogs to the area on Aug. 17 to try and locate the wolf’s carcass, and were able to find a trail, but were ultimately unable to find the animal. Search efforts continued through Aug. 21.
FOX31 reached out to CPW for clarification on whether the wolf is dead, and did not receive a direct answer. However, CPW said as of Sept. 5, there no signs of depredations or vocalizations that have been reported in the area
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