DENVER, COLORADO – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has officially launched its 2025 gray wolf capture and relocation program, aiming to translocate up to 15 wolves from British Columbia to Colorado this year. The initiative, part of the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan, aligns with Proposition 114, which voters passed in 2020 to restore a sustainable gray wolf population in the state.
The capture operations began Friday, with CPW working alongside biologists from British Columbia’s Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship. The effort involves capturing wolves, conducting health evaluations, attaching tracking collars, and transporting the animals by aircraft to Colorado for release at select sites on the Western Slope.
“This new source population of gray wolves will provide additional genetic diversity to Colorado’s wolf population,” said Eric Odell, CPW’s Wolf Conservation Program Manager.
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Collaboration and Conflict Minimization
CPW has implemented a robust conflict minimization program to address interactions between wolves and livestock. Measures include deploying range riders, providing non-lethal tools, and removing carcasses that may attract predators. A depredation response team and new chronic depredation guidelines will also support livestock producers in areas with active wolf activity.
CPW Director Jeff Davis emphasized the agency’s commitment to balancing ecological restoration with the needs of local communities. “We remain committed to working with all parties as we continue to implement the law as passed by the voters,” Davis said.
Ensuring Animal Welfare and Selection Standards
Captured wolves are thoroughly evaluated to ensure they are suitable for relocation. CPW will not select wolves with major health issues or those from packs with repeated livestock depredation histories. The goal is to minimize stress on the animals during transportation and increase their likelihood of thriving in Colorado’s ecosystems.
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Ecosystem Benefits and Monitoring
Adding wolves to Colorado’s landscape is expected to boost the likelihood of pairing, breeding, and pack formation. Wolf packs naturally establish and defend territories, which will allow CPW to gather valuable data on wolf behavior and movement while enhancing coexistence strategies with livestock producers.
The first release sites are anticipated to be in Garfield, Eagle, or Pitkin counties, with CPW sharing details about the age, weight, and sex of relocated wolves once they arrive.
Looking Ahead
CPW plans to release 10-15 wolves annually for the next three to five years, ultimately establishing a self-sustaining population in the state. With British Columbia’s abundant gray wolf population—estimated at 5,300 to 11,600 individuals—CPW’s partnership with the province offers a sustainable source for these reintroductions.
For updates on the program, including movement maps and monthly reports, visit CPW’s Wolves in Colorado webpage at cpw.state.co.us.
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