Wolves in Colorado
Proposition 114, now state statute 33-2-105.8, passed on November 3, 2020. It directed the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to develop a plan to introduce and manage gray wolves in Colorado west of the Continental Divide no later than December 31, 2023. Ten wolves were reintroduced to the state in December, 2023 as part of this plan.
Wolves in Colorado
Proposition 114, now state statute 33-2-105.8, passed on November 3, 2020. It directed the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to develop a plan to introduce and manage gray wolves in Colorado west of the Continental Divide no later than December 31, 2023. Ten wolves were reintroduced to the state in December, 2023 as part of this plan.
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Living with Wildlife
Living with Wolves
Generally, wolves are calm and elusive and avoid humans and are unlikely to approach people or homes. Gray wolves are habitat generalists, but are most commonly found in areas with plentiful deer and elk populations. If you live or recreate in the foothills or mountains of Colorado, you are in wolf country. Wolves are not normally a danger to humans, but you should treat wolves with the same respect you give any other wild animal. With a better understanding of wolves and their habitat, we can coexist with these magnificent animals.
Wolf Behavior
Wolves are active year-round and become more visible during their breeding season in January through March. Pups are born from April to mid-May. In June and July wolves may be seen bringing prey or toys made of sticks or other natural materials back to the den for pups. They are active any time of the day or night, but are most likely to be active at dawn and dusk.
Wolves are most active from dusk to dawn, although they do travel and hunt in daylight. Wolves prefer to eat ungulates like deer, elk and moose; however they also eat other small mammals and, occasionally, livestock. In Colorado, elk will likely make up the majority of wolves’ diets.
Wolves are cursorial hunters, meaning they chase their prey to capture them. Members of the same pack hunt together, and larger packs are better at killing large prey. The vast majority of wolf hunts are unsuccessful, and hunting is dangerous to the wolf. Injuries acquired during hunting are a leading cause of natural mortality for wolves, such as being kicked or gored.
Wolves are social animals, living in a family group known as a pack. A pack usually consists of 6-10 animals: a male and female (the breeding pair), pups from the previous year (yearlings) and the current year’s pups. Wolves disperse from the pack they were born in around age 2 or 3. Wolves that do not disperse may remain in the pack as subordinate adults, and occasionally, an unrelated adult will join the pack. The dominant pair tends to lead the pack by raising the young, selecting denning and rendezvous sites, and maintaining the territory. The territory may cover 20-120 square miles. The size of their territory depends on factors like suitable habitat, food availability and wolf density. Wolves naturally require a lot of space, which can sometimes lead to conflict with humans.
It is very rare for wolves to cause a direct threat to humans. To reduce the likelihood of an encounter, or of an encounter turning into an attack, general alertness of surroundings is highly recommended. Look around - scan the sides of hills, forests or open meadows for the presence of wildlife. Since wolves hunt by chasing their prey, running deer or elk could be a sign of a predator such as wolves in the vicinity.
Some signs of aggression include
- Raising its hackles
- Baring its teeth
- Growling
- Ear laid back against head
- Lowering head with teeth bared and stalking forward
Help Keep Wolves Wild
Keep Wolves Away from Your Home
Make lots of noise if you come and go during the times when wolves are most active from dusk to dawn.
Don’t feed wolves or any other wildlife.
Store all garbage securely and don't leave out any food items out where wolves can be attracted to it.
Close doors to all outbuildings so wildlife cannot get inside.
Crossing Paths with Wolves
Do not approach a wolf, especially one that is feeding or with pups, or if you have a dog with you. Most wolves will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
Maintain visual contact with the wolf so you can see what it is doing and where it is. Talk calmly yet firmly to it and make enough eye contact so that it knows you have seen it. Most wolves will run away.
If you have a dog with you, keep the dog away from the wolf. Dogs can aggravate wolves, and the situation can escalate if dogs are acting aggressively toward wolves.
If there is shelter or a vehicle nearby, face the wolf and stand upright while backing away slowly. Running may stimulate a predatory instinct to chase and attack. If you cannot retreat, stand your ground, face the wolf and try to appear larger. For example, raise your arms, stand on a stump or a rock or open your jacket. Place obstacles you may have, like a bike, between you and the wolf.
If the wolf behaves more aggressively (eyes locked on you, ears forward or backwards), yell loudly, clap and wave your walking stick in front of you. An air horn may also be effective. If the wolf gets even more aggressive (ears lowered, growling/snarling, baring teeth), be ready to fight back or deploy bear spray at an approaching wolf. In the very unlikely event that a wolf attacks you, fight back. Remain standing, and try to get back up if you are knocked down. A wolf ’s underbelly and face, including its eyes, can be sensitive areas to target with fingers or sharp objects if you have to strike back.
Protecting Pets from Wolves
Wolves are predators, and generally feed on ungulates in the wild. However, wolves are opportunistic hunters and may kill pets and other farm animals such as alpacas and chickens.
Keep pets close to your home at all times of day, and bring them in at night. Don’t feed pets outside.
Place livestock in enclosed sheds or barns at night when available/appropriate.
Living with Wildlife
Lethal Removal of Wolves
Colorado Parks and Wildlife will respond as it does with other wildlife conflicts in the state (e.g., bears, mountain lions, etc.), dispatching the necessary wildlife officers to the scene.
The gray wolf in Colorado is protected by the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and state law. Unlawful take penalties can vary and can include fines up to $100,000, jail time and loss of hunting privileges.
State law allows for the protection of human safety if there is an immediate threat from any endangered or threatened species. However, these situations are extremely rare and would be thoroughly investigated. Additionally, although rare, state and federal land management agencies can remove or kill a wolf that presents a demonstrable, non-immediate threat to human safety.
Contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife immediately to notify them of the error.
Conflict minimization and nonlethal measures are the priority means to prevent wolf-livestock conflict. In incidents of repeated depredations, owners of livestock must file applications with Colorado Parks and Wildlife if they seek to injuriously or lethally take gray wolves, including for authorization for take of wolves caught in the act of attacking livestock or working dogs. A depredating incident must be confirmed before CPW will issue a lethal take permit.