By Shannon Lukens.

 

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted to pay two Wolf Damage Claims for Farrell Livestock in Grand County, and the Coberly Creek Ranch south of Yampa in Routt County. This was against the CPW recommendation to deny the claims. The commission will revisit the language about compensating for “Missing Livestock,” as opposed to “Missing Livestock that is dead.” Director Jeff Davis said it is important for all sides to keep working together.

“We have people who are losing hope. And when people lose hope, in my experience, they get desperate, and desperate things start to happen. What I need to make sure that we’re delivering that keeps people at the table, or we all will lose in this deal. I’m sitting her feeling with a pit in my stomach some really good people might walk away from the table when we need to keep them at the table and figure this out.”

 

 

 Long Answer from Jeff Davis

 

The meeting was all afternoon on Thursday. During the Wolf Program Update, Brian Dreher, the Assistant Director of Terrestrial Branch, updated each of the newly named wolf packs. Here is what he said about each pack.

 

Pictures of the King Mountain Pack were released by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. These pictures were taken in June.

King Mountain Pack in Routt County

The following is a brief overview of the efforts associated with the concentrated areas of wolf activity or the packs that Eric just mentioned. Personnel referenced here include CDA staff, CPW area staff, CPW  damage specialists, and CPW contracted range riders,and CDA range riders throughout the state that we have. I’ll start by the King Mountain Pack in RouttCounty.

Two active range riders are covering the northern and southern portions of this area, and a third is rotating in as needed. Further support comes from CPW staff from Area 8 and Area 10, and damage specialists working at that area. The United States Forest Service is also supporting these efforts through the use of a ranger station. Riders have relationships with the landowners in the area and are in close communication with area producers.

Riders are monitoring livestock and looking for wolf signs and presence in close proximity. Additionally, efforts for carcass management continue even within more re- remote areas, which can look different from carcass management in more accessible areas. This may include moving carcasses to less conflict-prone areas and trying to direct livestock movements away from known carcasses.

Game Camera Video of the King Mountain Pack, courtesy CPW

 

One Ear Pack in western Jackson County

I’ll talk about the One Ear Pack in Jackson County. Staff including CPW contracted range riders, Area 10 staff, and three damage specialists, and CDA staff have been coordinating the on-the-ground efforts in this area since April 15th. These efforts include daytime riding and detailed checks of livestock to detect livestock health issues, behavioral changes, and noticeable losses. Producers in the areas are also working with other tools including GPS ear tags on livestock and emerging technologies,  for scare devices, through additional support from partners including Colorado State University.

As mentioned in my introduction, the seasonal change in livestock, native ungulates, and wolves continue to be monitored with proactive scenario planning. Producers continue to lend valuable information and coordination in this effort which helps CPW staff learn the land.

 

Copper Creek Pack in Pitkin County

We’ll now briefly talk about the Copper Creek impact in Pitkin County. The Commission and the public received a full update of this effort being under the effort being conducted there at the July 7th special meeting, so I won’t go into a lot of detail. Currently, daily range riding and communication with producers is happening. Livestock in this area continue to move and the landscape where they’re located is challenging with thick oak brush and broken terrain, including downed timber.

Staff have used various tools to detect where wolves are and work to create distance between livestock and wolves to their best of their ability. Numerous individuals have been involved in this effort, including a staff from Area 8, CPW damage specialists, CDA, two state contracted range riders. As needed, other trained individuals from around the state have been rotated in to provide an additional hand and to providedneeded rest.

Additionally,  ranch staff have been very active the past several months in doing carcass management, livestock checks, and communicating with CPW. The human effort in this situation has been incredibly intensive.

 

Three Creeks Pack in Rio Blanco County

Last, I’ll cover the Three Creeks pack in Rio Blanco County. This effort here includes four different range riders with three of them setting established camps in the larger landscapes and shifts up to 11 active days at a time. The terrain in this area varies widely and can be extremely remote. Increasing numbers of livestock started showing up in June and early July. Coordination with grazers began months ago prior to the moving of livestock into this area.

And rancher investment in the personnel such as herders and an additional effort is helping to reduce conflict. CPW Area 6 and Area 10 staff have been active in the area along with damage specialists. As other areas in Colorado, the intermix of carnivores and wildlife is high, which adds to the complexity of the situation in that area. Of the four packs discussed above, it’s important to note that three of the packs have had minimal conflicts to date.

This may be attributed to multiple factors, not of least of which is the participation and coordination with ranchers in these areas and CPW staff, CDA staff, and range riders. And we fully recognize that that situation could change anytime, and we can’t just rest on that. We need to stay vigilant and  adapt to whatever kind of gets thrown our direction.

Link to CPW Commission meeting at the start of the wolf presentation and consideration of claims

 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Statewide Public Information Officer, Luke Perkins, sent a press release wrap-up towards the end of the meeting. Here is that press release.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides wolf update to Parks and Wildlife Commission

GRAND JUNCTION – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) presented the Parks and Wildlife Commission with an update on conflict minimization efforts as well as the status of the organization’s Wolf Program on July 17, 2025. This presentation included discussion about CPW’s range riding program, the mortality, reproduction, and movement of gray wolves reintroduced to Colorado in 2023 and 2025, as well as an announcement on the establishment of new packs, and an update on translocation efforts for the 2025-26 winter season.

“Today’s presentation reinforces how far wolf restoration efforts have come since planning started in 2021,” said Jeff Davis, Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Beyond providing an update on conflict minimization efforts and future translocation efforts, CPW announced the formation of three additional packs in the state of Colorado. Successful pack formation is vital to CPW’s wolf restoration plan not just in terms of reproduction, but also the development of territories. Localization of pack movement patterns will allow CPW to work more effectively with producers on notifications and conflict minimization strategies.”

Mitigation and minimization efforts
CPW continues to evolve its conflict minimization efforts as wildlife behavior and livestock movements change with the seasons, as well as changes in landscape usage by livestock producers who are moving into larger range operations on both public and private land.

One of the primary tactics has been the use of range riders as a minimization tool when animals are on open range. CPW currently has nine range riders actively deployed with an emphasis on areas with concentrated wolf activity but flexibility to move to other areas as needed.

“These mitigation efforts have required a high level of communication and coordination which has been facilitated by CPW’s staff as well as producers, who are working with us to help minimize wolf and livestock conflict,” said Brian Dreher, Assistant Director of CPW’s Terrestrial Wildlife Branch. “CPW is incredibly grateful for the Colorado ranchers and agriculturalists who continue to work with us through trying times and unknown outcomes towards reducing conflict. Their personal investment of time, resources, and access are vital and deeply appreciated.”

In addition to active range riding, CPW continues to provide site assessments, investigate depredation reports, and is coordinating with the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) on carcass removal, even in remote areas where this is more complicated due to access issues.

In the near future CPW will be hiring a Wolf Damage and Conflict Minimization Manager who will bring additional expertise and support to the organization’s efforts. This role will also help coordinate interagency operations with partnering organizations such as CDA and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wolf mortality and movement analysis
Eric Odell, CPW’s Wolf Conservation Program Manager, provided an update on biologically relevant information on the wolf population in Colorado. A key part of Odell’s presentation was a review of five wolf mortalities that have occurred since the restoration efforts in January 2025. Two of these mortalities took place in Wyoming. Three mortalities took place in Colorado. Because wolves are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, the USFWS has the lead on conducting necropsies and determining the causes of death.

“We knew from the early stages of planning wolf restoration that there would be some level of mortality amongst translocated gray wolves,” Odell said. “We specifically built in benchmarks for when we would initiate protocol reviews based on CPW’s previous experience with reintroduction of lynx in the late 1990s/early 2000s. The mortality that has been experienced by the wolf population this year is not a reason to pause translocation efforts.”

CPW staff continues to closely monitor the health of gray wolves translocated to Colorado – as well as the yearlings and pups who have been born here.

Commissioners were also shown a series of animations detailing and comparing the movements of paired and unpaired wolves as well as newly acquired trail cam footage of wolf pups from the King Mountain Pack in Routt County. These animations highlighted the area covered by wolves and how the formation of breeding packs and establishment of territories aids in the management of Colorado’s wolf population. Copies of these animations and videos can be found here.

Establishment of packs and update on translocation efforts
During Odell’s presentation CPW announced that there are now three recognized packs in the state in addition to the Copper Creek pack that formed last year:

• One Ear Pack in Jackson County
• King Mountain Pack in Routt County
• And Three Creeks Pack in Rio Blanco County.

CPW recognizes packs only after a breeding pair of wolves have reproduced in late spring. While CPW staff have seen pups at some of the dens there is not a confirmed pup count for all of the packs. Detection of pups in late spring or early summer is inherently low, because of their small size, use of habitats in dense cover, and time potentially underground.

“We are continuing to monitor four dens in Colorado and will include minimum counts of the entire wolf population in our annual biological year reports,” Odell said. “Receiving reports of wolf sightings from the public – especially with high quality photos or video – is extremely helpful to CPW as we monitor and track the movement of gray wolves. This will become increasingly important as the population of uncollared wolves grows through successful restoration and natural immigration into Colorado.”

The final topic covered during Thursday’s presentation was an update on future translocation efforts. CPW is currently working on sourcing agreements for additional wolves to be translocated to Colorado in the winter of 2025-2026. The organization is currently working to schedule consultations with stakeholders in the southern release zone.

As additional information on these meetings becomes available it will be released to the public to encourage participation.

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Steamboat Radio News Past Coverage of wolves in Colorado

• July 17, 2025 — CPW updates the four wolf packs in Colorado and settles claims for missing livestock
• July 8, 2025 — CPW Commission and staff discuss Copper Creek Pack 
• July 6, 2025 — Holy Cross Cattlemen ask CPW for Chronic Depredation Permit
• July 3, 2025 — CPW Commission receives a new letter about the Copper Creek Pack of wolves  
• June 30, 2025 — CPW officials discuss wolves at with Colorado State Legislators at State Capitol 
• June 27, 2025 — CPW releases this year’s Colorado Gray Wolf Annual Report
• June 24, 2025 — Colorado Cattlemen hear of new wolf petition being presented to CPW
• June 2, 2025 —Another wolf has died
• May 30, 2025 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife kills a wolf from the Copper Creek Pack
• May 16, 2025 —A gray wolf from British Columbia has died in Northwest Colorado
• April 24, 2025 — Another gray wolf from British Columbia has died
• April 11, 2025, Media Statement: Colorado Gray Wolf 2513 Mortality in Wyoming
• March 29, 2025 — Wolf in Jackson County may be heading to Wyoming 
• March 28, 2025 — Wolf in Jackson County meets three Livestock Guardian Dogs
• March 27, 2025 — Day 12 and the wolf keeps showing up each night at the same Jackson County ranch
• March 24, 2025 — Wolf spotted on game cam in Jackson County
• March 22, 2025 — Ballot initiative to end wolf introduction by 2026 has been filed 
• March 20, 2025 — A gray wolf recently introduced to Colorado has been killed in Wyoming
• March 19, 2025 — CPW confirms a wolf attack on a dog in Jackson County 
• March 5, 2025 — CPW Commission talks wolves and how “we have to get past this point of constant contention”
• Feb. 14, 2025 — Jackson County Rancher says CPW has confirmed a wolf kill of his cow
• Feb. 13, 2025 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife updates wolf movements and more 
• Jan. 19, 2025 — Twenty wolves have been released in Eagle and Pitkin counties 
• Jan. 16, 2025 — Here is how you can become a Range Rider
• Jan. 15, 2025 — Colorado legislators are told that CPW agents are being threatened
• Jan. 12, 2025 — New wolves may have arrived from British Columbia 
• Jan. 11, 2025 — Up to 15 new gray wolves from British Columbia will be in Colorado within two weeks
• Jan. 8, 2025 — Video of the CPW Commission vote, denying the Wolf Citizen Petition
• Jan. 7, 2025 — Ag producers on Ad Hoc Wolf Working Group speak out before Wednesday’s CPW Commission meeting 
• Jan. 7, 2025 — STATE LEGISLATORS DISCUSS WOLVES AND THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION 
• Jan. 2, 2025 — A reward is offered for the person who shot a gray wolf in Grand County 
• Dec. 31, 2024 — Producers submit three wolf depredation claims for over $575,000 
• Dec. 23, 2024 — CPW releases definition and stipulations of Chronic Depredation and Lethal Management of wolves
• Dec. 21, 2024 — CPW says they’ll recommend denying petition request for delaying next introduction of wolves 
• Dec. 9, 2024 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife has started the operation to bring 15 gray wolves to Colorado from British Columbia
• Nov. 14, 2024 — Wolf Update — November 14, 2024 
• Nov. 3, 2024 — A collared wolf has crossed I-70 to the south, for the first time 
• Nov. 3, 2024 — CPW responds to requests from Club 20 about Wolf Reintroduction 
• Oct. 15, 2024 — Livestock producers have access to livestock protection dogs for free from USDA 
• Oct. 11, 2024 — Fifth wolf pup has not been captured 
• Oct. 8, 2024 — CPW Commission gets another letter asking to pause wolf reintroduction
• Oct. 6, 2024 — CPW Commission hears wolf updates at meeting 
• Sept. 30, 2024 –– A 5th wolf pup is spotted in Grand County and will be captured by CPW
• Sept. 30, 2024 — Colorado Ag Organizations petition CPW Commission before further wolf releases happen
• Sept. 26, 2024 — No producers show for first Non-Lethal Wolf Conflict Reduction Training Meeting 
• Sept. 23, 2024 — CPW confirms a cow and a calf killed by wolves in Grand County 
• Sept. 16, 2024 — The Wolf Conflict Reduction program is hiring two field specialists  
• Sept. 14, 2024 — The next set of wolves coming to Colorado will be from Canada 
• Sept. 13, 2024 — Middle Park Stockgrowers ask CPW not to release any more wolves there 
• Sept. 12, 2024 — Another wolf is dead in Grand County 
• Sept. 10, 2024 — Grand County ranchers are reporting more wolf kills 
• Sept. 9, 2024 — The Copper Creek Wolf Pack has been captured and CPW says the adult male was unhealthy and has died
• Sept. 9, 2024 –– Ranchers with the most wolf depredations ask U.S. Fish & Wildlife to take over wolf management
• Aug. 27, 2024 — The Copper Creek Wolf Pack is getting rounded up and relocated
• Aug. 23, 2024 — CPW confirms the next wolves introduced will again be in Northern Colorado 
• July 31, 2024 — Eight more sheep confirmed killed by wolves in Grand County 
• July 31, 2024 — Colville Tribe says they won’t send wolves to Colorado now
• July 29, 2024 — Two more sheep die from wolves in Grand County
• June 24, 2024 — CPW REPORTS LESS WOLF ACTIVITY IN ROUTT AND NONE IN MOFFAT
• June 20, 2024 — WOLF PUP CONFIRMED IN GRAND COUNTY
• June 19, 2024 — CPW CONFIRMS SOUTH ROUTT WOLF KILL
• June 17, 2024 — PRODUCER REPORTS SUSPECTED WOLF KILL IN SOUTH ROUTT COUNTY 
• June 16, 2024 —  CPW DIRECTOR JEFF DAVIS ANSWERS QUESTIONS AT JACKSON COUNTY GATHERING 
• June 13, 2024 —  CPW TO FORM WORKING GROUP REGARDING WOLF RESTORATION
• June 12, 2024 — NORTH PARK PRODUCER WHO LOSES CALF SPEAKS OUT
• June 10, 2024 — CPW CONFIRMS ANOTHER WOLF DEPREDATION IN JACKSON COUNTY THIS WEEKEND
• June 5, 2024 — Wolf Video posted from Grand County
• May 26, 2024 —  DON GITTLESON SAYS ANOTHER CALF HAS BEEN KILLED BY WOLVES ON HIS RANCH 
• May 15, 2024 — HERE’S THE LATEST LETTER TO MIDDLE PARK STOCKGROWERS FROM CPW DIRECTOR DAVIS 
• May 14, 2024 — Suspected mountain lion kills the collared wolf
• May 6, 2024 — MIDDLE PARK STOCKGROWERS SEND EIGHT-PAGE LETTER TO CPW
• April 30, 2024 — GRAND COUNTY RANCHERS TO GET HELP WITH PROTECTING THEIR LIVESTOCK
• April 30, 2024 — NORTH PARK STOCKGROWERS SEND ANOTHER LETTER TO CPW AND GOV. POLIS
• April 28, 2024 —ANOTHER WOLF KILL IN GRAND COUNTY SUNDAY
• April 24-2024 —  COLLARED GRAY WOLF ACTIVITY MAP RELEASED FOR APRIL
• April 23, 2024 — A WOLF HAS DIED, AND MIDDLE PARK STOCKGROWERS HEAR FROM CPW
• April 22, 2024 —  MULTIPLE LETTERS SENT TODAY TO GOVERNOR POLIS AND CPW ASKING FOR ACTION ON WOLVES
• April 18, 2024 —  FOUR MORE HEAD OF LIVESTOCK KILLED BY WOLVES IN GRAND COUNTY
• April 9, 2024 — AG PRODUCERS MEET WITH CPW OFFICIALS IN KREMMLING ABOUT WOLVES
• April 8, 2024 — ANOTHER CALF KILLED BY A WOLF OR WOLVES IN JACKSON COUNTY
• April 3, 2024 — A WOLF OR WOLVES HAVE KILLED A NEWBORN CALF IN GRAND COUNTY
• April 3, 2024 —  Denver 7  Calf killed in first confirmed report of gray wolf depredation since wolves were released in December
• Feb. 29, 2024 — COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE OFFICIALS COME TO STEAMBOAT SPRINGS TO TALK WOLVES
•  Jan. 30, 2024 — CPW SENDS UPDATE ON WOLF SIGHTINGS SINCE 2004, AND MORE ON THE MAP
• Jan. 24, 2024  — ELECTED OFFICIALS GRILL DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CPW AT HEARING WEDNESDAY
• Jan. 22, 2024 — CPW GETS HARSH LETTER DEMANDING ANSWERS FROM ROBERTS AND MCCLUSKIE
• Jan. 19, 2024 — COLORADO’S NEXT WOLVES TO BE REINTRODUCED WILL BE FROM TRIBAL LANDS IN WASHINGTON
• Jan. 12, 2024 — CPW CONFIRMS WOLVES WERE IN SOUTH ROUTT BUT AREN’T (YET) IN MOFFAT
• Dec. 22, 2023 — FIVE MORE WOLVES ARE RELEASED BY COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE
• Dec. 22, 2023 — CPW DENIES GITTLESON’S REQUEST TO IMPLEMENT 10(J) RULE ON JACKSON COUNTY WOLVES
• Dec. 21, 2023 — THREE OF THE FIVE WOLVES RELEASED IN COLORADO WERE IN PACKS THAT KILLED OR INJURED LIVESTOCK IN OREGON
• Dec. 19, 2023 — LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS RECEIVE WOLF UPDATE FROM CPW IN CRAIG MONDAY
• Dec. 13, 2023 — GITTLESON SAYS ANOTHER CALF WAS ATTACKED BY A WOLF TODAY
• Dec. 11, 2023 — COMPLAINT FILED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT TO STOP WOLF REINTRODUCTION IN COLORADO
• Dec. 4, 2023 — KEEP YOUR PETS CLOSE AND CARRY A BIG STICK – CPW HAS ADVICE FOR LIVING WITH WOLVES
• Nov. 19, 2023 — THREE LAMBS KILLED BY A WOLF IN JACKSON COUNTY, SAYS RANCHER
• Nov. 17, 2023 – CPW AND CDA ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO WORK TOGETHER ON WOLF REINTRODUCTION
• Nov. 7, 2023 – U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SETS DATE FOR 10J RULE FOR WOLVES
• Oct. 6, 2023 – COLORADO WILL RECEIVE WOLVES FROM OREGON
• May 16, 2023 –  POLIS VETOES 10J RULE WOLF BILL
• May 3, 2023 – CPW COMMISSION APPROVES FINAL WOLF RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN 
• May 2, 2023 – MANAGEMENT OF GRAY WOLVES REINTRODUCTION BILL PASSES IN STATE HOUSE
• May 2, 2023 –CPW MEETS THIS WEEK FOR FINAL WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN 
• April 27, 2023 – CPW CONFIRMS WOLF SIGHTING EAST OF KREMMLING
• April 8, 2023 – CPW WOLF COMMISSION MEETS IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS 
• April 3, 2023 – CPW TO PRESENT FINAL DRAFT WOLF RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
• March 28, 2023 – THE SOUTHERN UTE TRIBE ASKS THAT CPW RELEASES WOLVES ALONG I-70 CORRIDOR
• March 15, 2023 – TWO DOGS DIE FROM WOLVES IN JACKSON COUNTY THIS WEEK
• March 3, 2023 –COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION RELEASES WOLF REINTRODUCTION MEETING RECAP 
• Feb. 21, 2023 —WOLF 2101 RECAPTURED AND RECOLLARED IN JACKSON COUNTY
• Feb. 21, 2023 —10J RULE MEETINGS WITH REGARDS TO WOLVES SCHEDULED FOR NW COLORADO BY US FISH AND WILDLIFE
• Jan. 17, 2023 —STATE LEGISLATORS HEAR MORE ON WOLF REINTRODUCTION AT JOINT COMMITTEE HEARING
• Dec. 13, 2022 —MORE WOLVES VISIT GITTLESON PROPERTY IN JACKSON COUNTY THIS WEEK
• Dec. 12, 2022 —NORTH PARK RANCHERS MEET WITH CPW REGARDING WOLF REINTRODUCTION PLAN
• Dec. 10, 2022 —CPW RELEASES DRAFT COLORADO WOLF RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
• Nov. 19, 2022 —ANOTHER WOLF ATTACK REPORTED IN JACKSON COUNTY
• Oct. 9, 2022 —WOLVES ATTACK CALVES IN RIO BLANCO AND JACKSON COUNTIES
• July 14, 2022 —CPW UPDATES THE WOLF PACK IN JACKSON COUNTY
• June 20, 2022 ––WOLF MANAGEMENT DISCUSSED AT MEETING IN WALDEN
• June 15, 2022 —WOLVES IN NORTH PARK ARE SUBJECT AT MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 20
• May 30, 2022 —THE GITTLESON RANCH LOSES ANOTHER CALF TO WOLVES, THEY SAY
• May 5, 2022 —AT LEAST TWO MORE CALVES KILLED BY WOLVES ON GITTLESON RANCH
• May 10, 2022 ––THIRD CALF DIES ON JACKSON COUNTY RANCH; CPW DOES NECROPSY
• April 11, 2022 —A NEW LITTER OF WOLF PUPS IS EXPECTED IN JACKSON COUNTY
• March 17, 2022 —WOLVES ATTACK ANOTHER DOMESTIC COW IN JACKSON COUNTY
• Feb. 10, 2022 – MONTANA STOCKGROWERS VOICE SUPPORT FOR COLORADO RANCHERS OVER THE WOLVES
• Feb. 9, 2022 – WOLF MANAGEMENT DISCUSSED BY LOCAL RANCHERS AND OFFICIALS AT FORUM IN STEAMBOAT
• Jan. 22, 2022 – WOLF MITIGATION OPTIONS
• Jan. 19, 2022 – ANOTHER COW KILLED OVERNIGHT IN NORTH PARK BY WOLVES
• Jan. 18, 2022 – TWO MORE COWS ATTACKED BY WOLVES IN JACKSON COUNTY TUESDAY
• Jan. 12, 2022 – CPW ALLOWS WOLVES TO BE HAZED IN EMERGENCY DECLARATION
• Jan. 10, 2022 – A WOLF PACK KILL IS REPORTED IN JACKSON COUNTY OVER THE WEEKEND
• June 9, 2021 – WOLF DEN WITH PUPS CONFIRMED IN NW COLORADO