Colorado Parks and Wildlife has confirmed that it lethally removed an uncollared wolf in Routt County, an area in the northern part of the state that includes Steamboat Springs.
According to a press release from the agency, the world was originally a member of Copper Creek Pack but had not been a part of the pack since September of 2024. This wolf had been involved in 10 different confirmed depredation events involving 22 sheep since summer of 2025 in both Rio Blanco County and Routt County.
The two most depredation events occurred on June 10th and 11th in Routt County, each of which involved one sheep. Both incidents had clear and convincing evidence that they were depredated by a wolf, and visual evidence obtained at the scene of the lethal removal showed that the removed wolf is the same one. The producer had already pursued substantial non-lethal conflict minimization efforts.
“The decision to pursue lethal actions is never an easy one but the circumstances around this wolf’s repeated depredation history made this a difficult but necessary decision. The producers impacted by these depredations have worked diligently with CPW to identify and deploy all viable and reasonable non-lethal tools and techniques identified through their site assessment and consultation with our field staff.” – CPW Director Laura Clellan.
Prior to the lethal removal, the producers impacted by the uncollared wolf had pursued conflict minimization efforts including conducting of a site assessment to identify viable, reasonable, and effective tools and techniques for their operations, deployment of range riders, use of livestock guardian dogs and scare devices, active human presence from herders, and applying for injurious non-lethal hazing permits.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife made the decision to lethally remove the uncollared wolf in consultation with USFWS and in accordance with applicable legal requirements, including the USFWS 10(j) rule.
