Uncollared wolf dies in northwest Colorado, marking fifth death this year
Wolf-RFP-080326
An uncollared wolf died in northwest Colorado on Friday, July 27, according to a news release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The state wildlife agency said it is investigating the cause of death and will not release any additional details about the death until the necropsy and investigation is complete.
This death marks the fifth wolf death this year and the 15th since Colorado began its reintroduction of gray wolves in December 2023.
This year, the mortalities have included the death of a female gray wolf in January, for which the cause is still under investigation, the June death of an uncollared wolf, which was killed after it was tied to attacks on at least 22 sheep, as well as the deaths of both breeding adults from the King Mountain Pack in Routt and Eagle counties. The patriarch died during routine collaring operations conducted by Parks and Wildlife, and the matriarch was reportedly shot by a ranch hand while attacking a cow.
Around half of Colorado’s wolf population is currently uncollared. While Parks and Wildlife has collared all 25 wolves — 12 of which are still alive — that it has translocated to the state, some, but not all, of the pups born have been collared.
POPULATION ESTIMATE
The population was estimated to be 32 gray wolves as of March 30, when Parks and Wildlife released its 2025-26 annual report. The number included 18 adults and 14 pups. One of these adults has been confirmed dead since the June killing of the uncollared wolf in Routt County.
It is unknown whether the uncollared wolf that was reported dead on Friday was born in Colorado or traveled here naturally.
The wolf population has also grown since Parks and Wildlife released its annual report. The state wildlife agency announced recently that four of its packs — including a new one, dubbed the Piney Ridge Pack, established this spring in Eagle County — had pups this year.
The One Ear Pack in Jackson County, the Copper Creek Pack in Pitkin County and the Three Creeks Pack in Rio Blanco County also had pups this spring. Parks and Wildlife has not reported how many were born, but an average wolf litter is between four and six pups.
