Colorado to Pull Back on Killing Wolves Involved in Livestock Attacks as Survival Concerns Rise
The agency will publish a revised rule by April 1 as biologists warn the state’s wolf population could decline further.
- On Wednesday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced a temporary suspension of its policy allowing the killing of gray wolves that attack livestock, shifting to evaluate lethal removal requests on a more conservative, case-by-case basis.
- This management shift follows concerns regarding population sustainability, including high mortality rates and potential disease threats; agency officials reported only 61% of adult wolves survived over the past year, below the expected 75% survival rate.
- Biologists estimate at least 45 wolves currently reside in Colorado, including 20 pups born this spring; while pup survival hit 82% last year, that number is expected to decline over the winter.
- By April 1, 2027, CPW Director Laura Clellan stated the agency will revise its chronic depredation directive to align with adaptive management goals, while staff continue assisting ranchers with non-lethal deterrents and compensation support.
- Balancing the statutory mandate for a self-sustaining population with livestock producer needs remains central to Colorado's recovery plan, as the agency continues exploring future translocations to meet the target of 30 to 50 wolves.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Colorado to stop killing wolves that prey on livestock as population falters
DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife will temporarily stop killing wolves that prey on livestock as the state’s population of the controversial canines dwindles. The state wildlife agency, which announced the change Wednesday afternoon, says officials will still consider requests…
Colorado to stop killing wolves amid worries over falling population, parasites and low pup counts; CPW says it will continue to work with livestock producers to mitigate wolf attacks but that it must address lower-than-normal adult wolf survival rate and pup survival rate that’s expected to fall
Colorado Parks and Wildlife says it will temporarily suspend its directive that allows the killing of gray wolves that harass or kill livestock, over fears that population growth may not occur this biological year and possible evidence of an infectious…
Colorado Backs Off Killing Wolves That Attack Cattle As Population Stalls At 45
Colorado's wolf population has leveled off at 45, half of them pups. With no new wolves coming because states won't send them and Canada is no longer an option, the state says it will be more selective about killing wolves that attack cattle.
Major agricultural groups condemn suspension of Colorado wolf removals
(COLORADO) — Major agricultural organizations in Colorado condemned the decision to suspend the lethal removal of chronically depredating wolves made by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) on Wednesday, Sept. 30. According to the Colorado Farm Bureau (CFB), it was joined by the Colorado Cattlemen's Association (CCA), Colorado Livestock Association (CLA), Colorado Wool Growers Association (CWGA), [...]
Aspen Times
Colorado to pull back on killing wolves involved in livestock attacks as survival concerns rise
Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced on Wednesday, Sept. 30, that it will be taking a more conservative approach to deciding whether or not to kill wolves that are repeatedly attacking livestock — citing rising concerns over how potential disease, wolf pup survival, mortality rates and uncertainty around future releases could impact the nascent population of gray wolves. The management change comes after the state wildlife agency has killed fi…
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