Full Breakdown
Colorado Lethally Removes Uncollared Wolf Tied to 22 Sheep Deaths
7/15/2026, 11:44:14 AM
Core Event: Lethal Removal in Routt County
On June 12 2026, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services shot an uncollared wolf in northern Routt County. The animal, identified as a 2024-born member of the Copper Creek pack, had been linked through hair, tissue and photographic evidence to a series of livestock depredations spanning July 2025 through June 2026. The kill followed four prior attempts to locate and remove the same wolf after it repeatedly attacked sheep in Rio Blanco, Routt and Moffat counties.
Background & Context
Colorado began reintroducing gray wolves in December 2023 under a state-wide restoration plan that envisions translocating 10-15 additional wolves. The plan also authorizes lethal control of “chronically depredating” wolves, a status triggered when three confirmed attacks occur within 30 days despite non-lethal mitigation. The authority for lethal removal derives from the federal 10(j) rule administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which permits state agencies to kill wolves that threaten livestock while they remain federally protected.
Timeline of Depredations and Removal Attempts
- July 20 2025 – First confirmed sheep death in Rio Blanco County.
- July 22, Aug 2, Aug 16 2025 – Three additional attacks; chronic depredation declared after Aug 2.
- Aug 13 2025 – First lethal attempt postponed by wildfires; subsequent night-time shooting on Aug 16 fails to secure a clear shot.
- Oct 9, Oct 12, Nov 4 2025 – Two dead ewes and one injured ewe found; same wolf suspected.
- Jan 24 2026 – One dead ewe and three injured ewes reported; third lethal search launched Jan 25–Feb 22, but terrain prevents a shot.
- June 10–11 2026 – Two lambs killed in Routt County; renewed effort leads to successful shot on June 12.
Data & Statistics
- 22 sheep (lambs, ewes and injured individuals) confirmed killed or injured.
- 10 confirmed depredation events across three counties.
- Four distinct lethal-removal operations conducted between August 2025 and June 2026.
- One wolf eliminated; the animal was the sole uncollared individual linked to all incidents.
Official Statements & Responses
CPW Director Laura Clellan emphasized that lethal action is a last resort, noting extensive non-lethal measures—including range riders, guardian dogs, scare devices and injurious hazing permits—had been deployed. Governor Jared Polis reiterated the state’s commitment to both wolf restoration and conflict mitigation, citing the Wolf Restoration and Management Plan’s dual goals of population growth and livestock protection. Matt Barnes, a rangeland scientist with the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, acknowledged the removal’s alignment with Colorado’s impact-based management framework while urging earlier conflict-prevention steps.
Criticism & Opposition
The Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, which helped orchestrate Colorado’s wolf reintroduction, expressed disappointment, describing the loss as “a serious moment” that revealed weaknesses in the restoration effort. The organization argued that proactive measures could have prevented both the livestock losses and the eventual lethal removal.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — Laura Clellan, CPW Director
- “While the unanimously adopted Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan calls for 10-15 more wolves to be translocated to Colorado, it also calls for lethal control of chronically depredating wolves,” — Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado
- “Lethally removing an individual involved in chronic conflict aligns with the state’s impact-based management framework, which had broad agreement among stakeholders,” — Matt Barnes, rangeland scientist, Rocky Mountain Wolf Project
- “The area had thick oak brush, mountain shrubs, south-facing slopes of brush and aspen stands, and north-facing slopes of dense spruce-fir forests. Bottoms were densely covered in willow and riparian vegetation,” — Colorado Parks and Wildlife report
What’s Next
The CPW report does not specify further removal actions, but the 10(j) window for lethal control of this wolf has closed, and the agency continues to monitor the Copper Creek pack for future conflicts.
