Colorado Parks and Wildlife concludes active removal period to address chronic depredation in Rio Blanco County

Travis Duncan
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-595-8294 / [email protected]

August 26, 2025

DENVER – On August 16, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Wildlife Services (WS) deployed a team to Rio Blanco County to lethally remove an uncollared wolf that was determined to be responsible for six depredations in Rio Blanco County in late July and August. CPW and WS located the wolf and attempted to lethally remove the wolf with a firearm on August 16 but were unable to locate the animal due to the dense vegetation and difficult terrain in the area. CPW and WS spent several days systematically gridding the area, dividing the terrain into sections and thoroughly searching each one. After six days of extensive and continued efforts, the team discontinued its search and concluded removal efforts. CPW and WS continue to monitor Rio Blanco County for signs of further wolf activity and there have been no additional depredations or reports of wolf vocalizations since August 16.

CPW’s decision to implement lethal control was made in accordance with applicable legal requirements, including the USFWS 10(j) rule, Parks and Wildlife Commission regulations, and CPW’s administrative directive regarding “Chronic Depredation and Lethal Removal of Depredating Gray Wolves.”

This management decision was a response to six confirmed depredations in Rio Blanco County in late July and August. Of these depredations, three were determined by clear and convincing evidence to have been caused by a wolf with the others being determined by a preponderance of evidence to have been caused by a wolf. 

Lethal removal operations in Rio Blanco County were delayed due to active fire behavior on the Elk Fire – which started on August 2. On August 16, decreased fire activity and increased containment lines on the Elk Fire allowed CPW and its agents to safely pursue lethal removal operations without impairing the agency’s ability to support firefighting efforts and producers in Rio Blanco County.

“The decision to pursue lethal actions is never an easy one, but the events in Rio Blanco County met the conditions for chronic depredation that were defined with input from the ad-hoc working group,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis. “Removal of animals like this is an unfortunate part of wildlife management that is consistent with the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan and our 10(j) rule.”

“CPW remains committed to recovering and maintaining a viable, self-sustaining wolf population in Colorado, while concurrently working to minimize wolf-related conflicts with domestic animals,” Davis said. “We are grateful for the producers in the area who worked constructively with CPW on deployment of multiple non-lethal conflict minimization efforts both prior to and during the series of depredations. These actions are designed to ensure that wolves and packs that are targeting natural prey, such as wild ungulates, serve as the foundation for a sustainable wolf population in Colorado.”

CPW considers four factors when determining whether a situation qualifies for lethal removal of depredating wolves: 

• documented repeated depredation and harassment of a producer’s livestock or working dogs caused by the wolf, wolves, or pack targeted
• use of a variety of non-lethal conflict minimization materials and techniques
• likelihood that additional wolf-related depredation will continue if lethal control is or is not implemented
• unintentional or intentional use of attractants that may be luring or baiting wolves to the location

Chronology of Depredation Events
A ‘depredation event’ is defined as a 24-hour period in which the Division determines by at least a preponderance of the evidence standard that a wolf or wolves caused physical trauma resulting in injury or death to a producer’s livestock or working dogs.

The timeline of depredation events that prompted this management action is below.

• July 20, 2025: one lamb deceased. WS found clear and convincing evidence that indicated the depredation was caused by a gray wolf, which was later confirmed by CPW. This depredation event was on a public land allotment.
• July 22, 2025: one lamb deceased. CPW found the preponderance of evidence indicated that the depredation was caused by a gray wolf. This depredation event was on a public land allotment.
• August 2, 2025: one ewe deceased. WS found the preponderance of evidence indicated that the depredation was caused by a gray wolf, which was later confirmed by CPW. This depredation event was on public land allotment.
• August 16, 2025: three lambs deceased. CPW found clear and convincing evidence indicated that two of these depredations were caused by a gray wolf, with the other being determined by a preponderance of evidence.

Following the depredation event on August 2, 2025, CPW staff immediately began working to determine if lethal removal was legally authorized and appropriate under the circumstances. The determination was made on August 4, 2025, but plans to safely remove the wolf were delayed due to active behavior on the Elk Fire. CPW and its agent first deployed a team to pursue lethal removal on August 16, 2025.

Management Actions Conducted to Deter/Reduce Conflicts
Following the first depredation event on July 20, 2025, CPW coordinated with producers, including local woolgrowers associations, to provide around-the-clock range rider coverage while opportunistically hazing the uncollared wolf. Range riding efforts supplemented existing non-lethal conflict minimization tools already deployed by the producer as determined by a site assessment conducted earlier this year to discourage depredation on the impacted allotments.

In addition to the range riders deployed following the first depredation on July 20, 2025, non-lethal conflict minimization resources utilized by the producer before and during the timeline of depredation included human presence in the form of shepherds, use of working dogs, and deployment of sound scare devices.

CPW will not be sharing specific information concerning the depredation events or the ensuing removal operation. CPW will post a final report on its website once it is completed.

The livestock producer could be eligible for the fair market value of the livestock if claims are submitted. CPW provides reimbursement for damages caused by gray wolves to livestock defined in C.R.S. 33-2-105.8 and animals used for guard/herding purposes and provides conflict minimization materials to livestock producers in affected areas under its Gray Wolf Compensation and Conflict Minimization Program.

It’s important to remember that, unless authorized by state and federal law, killing or injuring a wolf is illegal. There are limited exceptions, such as the taking of a wolf caught in the act of attacking livestock or working dogs by a producer. If a producer is able to show that they killed a wolf caught in the act, a permit can be issued by CPW, which authorizes lethal take retroactively.