A Licensed Hunter Killed a Colorado Wolf in January
Colorado wildlife officials said the hunter reported the mistake immediately, and federal investigators determined the wolf was killed by mistaken identity.
- On Monday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced a licensed hunter accidentally killed a reintroduced female wolf in January after mistaking it for a coyote; the hunter reported the incident and will not face further charges.
- A joint investigation by CPW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed the wolf died from an "accidental gunshot wound" on January 16, 2026, resulting in a citation for violating state hunting regulations.
- While coyote hunting remains legal in Colorado, state wildlife agencies provide guides distinguishing between species; wolves are generally larger than coyotes with bushier tails and "blockier" snouts.
- The Rocky Mountain Wolf Project expressed concern that distinguishing between species "may be impossible to determine" in some cases, arguing current regulations leave wolves vulnerable to accidental shootings during coyote hunts.
- Since Colorado began reintroducing wolves in December 2023, 17 wolves have died from various causes including vehicle collisions and lethal removal, as officials continue monitoring the small, recovering population.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Colorado hunter thought wolf shot and killed in January was a coyote
A hunter on the prowl for coyotes in northwestern Colorado accidentally shot and killed a wolf in January, a mistake that did not result in criminal charges, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced Monday. In a statement following a federal investigation, CPW said the death of female wolf 2504, translocated to Colorado from British Columbia in […]
Aspen Times
A licensed hunter killed a Colorado wolf in January
A licensed hunter reportedly killed one of Colorado’s female gray wolves in January. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a Monday, Aug. 10, news release that the cause of death was confirmed by a joint investigation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service into the wolf’s death on Jan. 16. According to the release, the hunter mistook the wolf for a coyote and “promptly reported the incident to CPW and cooperated with law enforcement throughout t…
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