CPW Shoots Copper Creek Wolf Depredating in Rio Blanco County, but No Carcass Found

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says it shot a chronic depredating wolf in Rio Blanco County, but could not locate it

More than a week after concluding an unsuccessful search for a chronic depredating wolf in Rio Blanco County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has released its full report on the failed attempt to kill the animal.  Officials shot the wolf once and found evidence that the animal was hit, but could not locate it following an extensive search.  DNA collected from blood and bone fragments during the search identified the wolf as the fifth Copper Creek Pa…

Colorado gray wolf likely shot, killed by wildlife officials after deaths of ewe and 5 lambs

A gray wolf connected to the deaths of five lambs and a ewe on Colorado’s Western Slope this summer likely was killed by state wildlife officials in August, although its body has not been found. The uncollared wolf was the lone member of the Copper Creek pack that was not captured and relocated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials in late 2024, the agency said in a lethal removal report released Friday. Parks and Wildlife began investigating…

CPW shoots Copper Creek wolf depredating in Rio Blanco County, but no carcass found

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 anim…

Wolf that killed sheep in Rio Blanco County was the Copper Creek pup left behind last fall, DNA tests show

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says it has killed a yearling wolf confirmed to have killed six sheep in Rio Blanco County. DNA samples identified it as the pup left behind when the agency trapped the Copper Creek pack back in August of 2024.  The news comes after a prolonged period of searching hampered by the Elk fire, which burned in northwestern Colorado from Aug. 2 to Aug. 17.  CPW spokesperson Luke Perkins said teams from CPW and the USDA’s wi…

Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Officials shot chronic depredating wolf in Rio Blanco County, but could not locate it

More than a week after concluding an unsuccessful search for a chronic depredating wolf in Rio Blanco County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has released its full report on the failed attempt to kill the animal.  Officials shot the wolf once and found evidence that the animal was hit, but could not locate it following an extensive search.  DNA collected from blood and bone fragments during the search identified the wolf as the fifth Copper Creek Pa…

The lone uncaptured Copper Creek wolf is responsible for recent Rio Blanco County sheep attacks, CPW says

The wolf that wildlife officials tried to kill last month after a series of sheep attacks in Rio Blanco County is the lone Copper Creek wolf that was not successfully captured a year ago, CPW says.