How Many Relocated Wolves Have Perished in Colorado?

Many Colorado residents believe that the reintroduction of wolves into the state is a good thing, as they once roamed the Rocky Mountains. On the opposite side, there are plenty of residents who have strongly opposed bringing wolves back to the state, and for good reason.

Gray wolves are predators and have a long history of killing livestock that ranchers depend on to feed their families. As you can see, there are two sides to every story, and it is no different when it comes to the reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado.

Colorado’s Wolf Reintroduction Effort So Far

There have been two rounds of translocated gray wolves into Colorado in December 2023 and January 2025. As of February 4, 2026, only a little more than half of the 25 gray wolves remain alive.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a three-year-old breeding male from the King Mountain Pack has died during a collaring operation in Routt County. The collaring operation was intended to ensure the collars function to assist Colorado Parks and Wildlife in monitoring the activity of the wolves. One of the duties of the collars is to track wolf localizations to aid in the deployment of conflict minimization resources.

READ MORE: Wolves' Toll on Colorado Livestock: Ranchers Push for Change

Gray Wolf 2305 was delivered to Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff in the field from the capture site, but the wolf was unresponsive. The team attempted to resuscitate the wolf, but unfortunately died during the routine operation.

All wildlife capture operations come with a risk and while we meticulously prepare and take every precaution to ensure a positive outcome, there is always the possibility, even if small, that the worst happens,

Said Colorado Parks and Wildlife Acting Director, Laura Clellan, in the press release.

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The death of gray wolf 2305 marks the mortality of the twelfth translocated wolf since the inception of Colorado's reintroduction efforts.