Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has confirmed that a lone wolf responsible for a series of sheep killings in northwest Colorado was the last uncaptured yearling from the Copper Creek Pack. The identification was made through DNA analysis of blood and bone fragments collected after an attempted lethal removal on August 16, 2025.

The wolf, a male, killed six lambs and one ewe between July 20 and August 16, meeting the state’s definition of chronic depredation. Despite extensive nonlethal deterrents and multiple removal attempts, the wolf continued to prey on livestock across a 6.5-mile radius. Wildlife officials eventually located and shot the animal, but were unable to recover the body due to dense terrain and limited visibility.

Genetic testing conducted at the National Wildlife Research Center confirmed the wolf’s lineage, linking it to the Copper Creek Pack originally captured in Grand County in September 2024. While CPW believed it had removed the entire pack—two adults and four pups—game camera footage later revealed a fifth pup had evaded capture.

In Context

The Copper Creek Pack has been at the center of Colorado’s wolf reintroduction debate since its emergence in 2023. Following repeated livestock attacks, CPW authorized the pack’s removal under federal 10(j) rules, which allow lethal action in cases of chronic depredation. The recent incident underscores the challenges of balancing wildlife conservation with agricultural interests.

Colorado voters approved Proposition 114 in 2020, mandating the reintroduction of gray wolves by the end of 2023. While the effort has been praised by environmentalists, ranchers have expressed concern over livestock safety and compensation protocols. The Rio Blanco case may reignite tensions as the state continues to navigate its evolving wolf management strategy.

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