A 10th wolf in Colorado's wolf reintroduction program has been found dead.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife stated in an Aug. 6 news release it became aware of the mortality of female gray wolf 2304 on July 24 in Wyoming. The release did not include the cause of death or where in Wyoming the wolf was found.
The agency's news release stated it does "not comment on wildlife movements, operations or regulations in other states."
Wyoming state law precludes details of wolf deaths from being made public in its "predator zone," which encompasses about 85% of the state. In that area, it is legal to kill wolves year-round.
The death was the third released wolf that has died in Wyoming. Two wolves captured in British Columbia and released in Colorado in January were legally killed in Wyoming, including one by federal officials.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife stated in the news release it is working with Wyoming Game and Fish for the return of the wolf's tracking collar.
Four of the 10 wolves captured in Oregon and released in Colorado in late December of 2023 have died. Five of the 15 wolves captured in British Columbia and released in Colorado in January have also died.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife lethally removed a yearling from the Copper Creek pack May 29 after members of the pack had repeated confirmed depredations in Pitkin County. That yearling was part of the first pack formed from released wolves. The breeding adults were both from Oregon.
The state wolf recovery plan calls for a review of the wolf reintroduction program if the survival rate six months after release is less than 70%. The British Columbia wolves failed to meet that threshold with a survival rate of just 67% in that time frame.
Eric Odell, Colorado Parks and Wildlife wolf conservation program manager, told the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission at its July 17 meeting in Grand Junction that the rate of mortality was within normal margins for a wolf population in the Rocky Mountains.
"The mortality that has been experienced by the wolf population this year is not a reason to pause translocation efforts," Odell said at the meeting.
The agency is planning on releasing a third batch of wolves this winter.
The wolves have died from a number of causes, including being legally shot in Wyoming, sustaining an illegal gunshot wound in Colorado, killed by mountain lions and other wolves, and getting caught in a leghold trap. Colorado Parks and Wildlife currently has lethal removal operations directed at another member of the Copper Creek pack, as well as an uncollared wolf in Rio Blanco County.
The agency said it has 22 collared wolves in the state and an unknown number of uncollared wolves. Four packs gave birth to an unknown number of pups this spring.
How Colorado's released wolves have died
This includes investigations up to the July 24 death. All necropsies and investigations of wolf deaths are conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as wolves are federally protected in Colorado.
July 24, 2025: Female wolf 2304 killed in Wyoming.
May 31: Colorado Parks and Wildlife received a mortality alert from male wolf 2507-BC in northwest Colorado. The agency released scant details of the death but said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating and a final determination of cause of death will not be made until the investigation is completed, including a necropsy.
May 29: Colorado Parks and Wildlife lethally removed wolf 2405, a yearling member of the Copper Creek pack, in Pitkin under its chronic depredation definition.
May 15: A necropsy and investigation revealed wolf 2512-BC died in northwest Colorado due to an apparent secondary injury from a lawful foothold trap used for coyote control.
April 20: A necropsy and investigation revealed female wolf 2514-BC found dead in Rocky Mountain National Park died from injuries sustained in an apparent mountain lion attack.
April 9: Male wolf 2513-BC was discovered dead in an undisclosed area of Wyoming.
March 16: Male wolf 2505-BC was shot and killed in north-central Wyoming by federal officials after it depredated on sheep.
Sept. 10, 2024: Male wolf 2307-OR was found dead in northern Grand County. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife necropsy revealed it was likely killed by another wolf or wolves and that it had a healed gunshot wound. The agency closed the case Nov. 13, 2024.
Sept. 3, 2024: Wolf 2309-OR was the breeding male of the Copper Creek pack that was captured during a removal operation by Colorado Parks and Wildlife in late August and early September after repeated depredations. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service necropsy indicated a gunshot wound led to the wolf's death in captivity. An investigation is ongoing and a $100,000 reward has been offered.
April 18, 2024: Male wolf 2303-OR was found dead in northwest Larimer County. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife necropsy determined the wolf was likely killed by a mountain lion.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: 10th Colorado reintroduced wolf found dead. Why are animals dying?
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