Reintroduced wolf found dead in Larimer County

DENVER (KDVR) — One of the 10 wolves reintroduced to Colorado over the winter has died, federal wildlife officials said Tuesday.

The gray wolf was found dead in Larimer County, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it “became aware” of the death on Thursday. Because the wolf is listed under the Endangered Species Act, its death is under investigation by federal authorities.

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“Initial evidence suggests that this wolf likely died of natural causes, but a final determination will not be made until the necropsy is completed,” a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson said in an email.

Meanwhile, federal officials are investigating another wolf death, but it was not from among the reintroduced wolves. The wolf found dead on April 3 in Elbert County was from the Great Lakes wolf population, the Fish and Wildlife Service said in a separate statement. The circumstances around this wolf’s death were not released.

“As a federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act, the Service is investigating this incident and is working in coordination with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. As an open and active investigation, no additional details are available at this time,” the statement reads.

An Elbert County rancher shared the below photo of the wolf carcass.

The news comes as pressure mounts from Colorado ranchers to address recent wolf depredations in the state. Six cattle were killed this month — five in Grand County and one in Jackson County.

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Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin called for the state to “lethally remove” the two wolves responsible for the cattle killings in his county.

Colorado has plans to introduce more wolves starting in December and into March 2025, with 30-50 more wolves to be released in the next five years.

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