DENVER — A gray wolf in Colorado has died after being illegally shot, highlighting the ongoing controversies surrounding the state’s initiative to reintroduce wolves. Federal authorities reported the incident, which marks a significant concern for wildlife management in the region.
In 2020, Colorado citizens, primarily from urban areas, voted to reintroduce gray wolves to the state, a decision that has ignited tensions with rural communities worried about potential livestock attacks. The initial release of ten wolves occurred last year, and since then, there have been numerous reports of livestock and working dog depredations attributed to the reintroduced population.
The wolf, part of the Copper Creek Pack, was captured in late August after it was implicated in repeated livestock killings in Grand County, located northwest of Denver. Following its capture, the wolf was found to be suffering from severe injuries, including a gunshot wound to its right hind leg, which was confirmed through a necropsy. It ultimately succumbed to these injuries in early September, prompting an ongoing investigation into the unlawful shooting.
Wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act, making it a federal offense to kill, injure, or harass them without proper authorization. Colorado wildlife officials project the release of an additional 30 to 50 wolves over the next five years as part of efforts to restore the species to one of its historical habitats in the western U.S., which once included regions from northern Canada to the desert southwest.
