Media Statement: CPW concludes investigation into mortality of gray wolf 2504
Luke Perkins
August 10, 2026DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service have completed their joint investigation into the mortality of female gray wolf 2504 and confirmed the cause of death.
The investigation has determined that 2504 died from an accidental gunshot wound from a licensed hunter who mistook it for a coyote on January 16, 2026. The hunter promptly reported the incident to CPW and cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation.
“Unlawful take of protected species is a criminal act that can carry serious penalties. Through CPW’s thorough investigative process we recognized that the hunter made the ethical choice to immediately report the incident and take responsibility for the accident,” said Ty Petersburg, Chief of Law Enforcement and Assistant Director of Field Services for CPW.
CPW cited the hunter for violating CPW regulations but is not pursuing further charges.
CPW would like to remind the public that gray wolves are a state and federal protected endangered species.
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
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