DENVER, COLORADO — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), with support from federal partners, is attempting to capture and relocate a newly discovered wolf pup believed to be a member of the Copper Creek pack. The operation, which falls under the provisions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 10(j) experimental population rule, comes after CPW concluded an earlier mission to relocate the rest of the Copper Creek pack following a string of livestock depredations in Grand County.
CPW biologists discovered the uncollared gray wolf pup on September 20 while reviewing footage from game cameras installed after the initial capture operation. The pup, believed to be the fifth member of the pack, was spotted in the same area where the other wolves were captured. CPW immediately initiated efforts to safely capture the pup and reunite it with its family, who are now being prepared for release at a new location before winter.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
This discovery adds a new layer of complexity to an already heated debate over wolf reintroduction in Colorado. The Copper Creek pack has been at the center of controversy since their reintroduction in December 2023, primarily due to their involvement in a series of livestock attacks that escalated tensions between ranchers and wildlife officials.
The relocation of the Copper Creek pack has been a point of contention. Ranchers have largely supported the move, seeing it as a necessary step to protect livestock. Conversely, conservation groups like Defenders of Wildlife have criticized the relocation, arguing that it undermines Colorado’s reintroduction program by prioritizing political pressure over science-based management.
CPW’s handling of the situation has come under scrutiny. Documents from earlier this year revealed delays in adopting nonlethal measures that could have potentially minimized livestock losses, raising questions about whether early intervention could have prevented the need for relocation. Nonetheless, CPW maintains that relocation is not a precedent-setting approach but a necessary response to the unique circumstances involving the Copper Creek pack.
As the operation to capture the pup unfolds, stakeholders on both sides of the wolf reintroduction debate are watching closely. The outcome could shape future strategies for balancing wildlife restoration with the needs of Colorado’s ranching community.
RECENT MOUNTAIN NEWS
