A conservation effort to reintroduce gray wolves to Colorado has suffered another heartbreaking setback. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials confirmed that a female gray wolf—one of 15 wolves released earlier this year—was found dead inside the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park.
The wolf’s GPS tracking collar triggered a mortality alert on April 20, prompting wildlife officials to locate and recover her body. This marks the second death among the group of wolves that were translocated to Colorado from British Columbia, Canada, as part of a historic effort to restore the species to its native range in the state.
A Historic Effort with New Challenges
In December 2023 and early 2024, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) released 15 gray wolves into designated areas of western Colorado, following years of public support and the approval of Proposition 114 by voters in November 2020. The goal was to reestablish a self-sustaining wolf population in the Southern Rockies, where wolves once roamed freely before being eradicated nearly a century ago.
To support coexistence between wolves and humans, CPW is also taking steps to reduce the risk of livestock depredation. The agency has established a compensation fund for livestock owners who lose animals to wolf predation. In addition, CPW provides resources to help ranchers prevent and resolve wolf-livestock conflicts. Reducing human-wolf and livestock-wolf interactions is seen as a key strategy to minimizing the need for lethal responses and promoting peaceful coexistence.
Why Wolves Matter
Wolves play a critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. As apex predators, they help regulate populations of prey species such as elk and deer, which can otherwise overgraze and alter landscapes. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), wolves are adaptable and do not have specific habitat requirements—as long as adequate prey is available, they can thrive. Their presence also benefits smaller carnivores and scavengers that rely on the remains of wolf kills for food.
The reintroduction of wolves to Colorado has been celebrated by conservationists as a long-overdue step toward restoring ecological balance and supporting a healthier, functioning ecosystem. However, it has also sparked opposition from some ranchers and rural communities, who are concerned about potential livestock losses and public safety. In addition, some critics have raised concerns about introducing gray wolves into areas that are heavily used for outdoor recreation.
A Plan to Mitigate More Potential Losses
Despite this tragic loss, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) remains committed to the success of the wolf reintroduction program. Officials continue to closely monitor the remaining wolves via GPS collars and are working to support the animals as they adapt to the challenges of living in a largely human-dominated landscape.
The agency has encouraged the public to report any wolf sightings but advises people to keep a respectful distance and avoid any direct interactions.
CPW has not yet released details regarding the cause of death, stating that a full necropsy will be conducted to determine what happened. Earlier this year, another reintroduced gray wolf was killed after reportedly attacking five sheep in Wyoming, according to USA Today. The wolf, which had traveled across state lines—wolves can cover up to 30 miles a day in search of food or a mate—was lethally removed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services.
Moving Forward with Caution and Care
Every death in a small, newly introduced population matters. However, wildlife experts emphasize that setbacks are a normal, if painful, part of the process when working to bring back an apex predator after a long absence.
As Colorado moves forward with its bold plan to reintroduce wolves to its landscapes, each wolf’s journey—and each life lost—is a reminder of the delicate balance between recovery, resilience, and respect for nature’s complex rhythms.
