Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has killed an uncollared gray wolf that is believed to be responsible for ten different confirmed depredation events in 2025 and early 2026, the agency announced on Saturday.

According to a press release from CPW, the agency killed the wolf on June 12 in Routt County. The wolf was originally a member of the Copper Creek Pack but had not been a part of the pack since September 2024. Evidence obtained at the scene confirmed that the wolf was the same one that was depredating in Rio Blanco County in 2025 and early 2026.

CPW said that the wolf had been involved in ten different depredation events involving 22 sheep since the summer of 2025. The most recent of these incidents were two events in Routt County on June 10 and 11. Each event involved one sheep that were confirmed “with clear and convincing evidence to have been depredated by a wolf.” The events happened even though the producer had pursued substantial non-lethal conflict minimization efforts.

Conflict minimization efforts included deployment of range riders, use of livestock guardian dogs and scare devices, active human presence from herders, and applying for injurious non-lethal hazing permits.

“The decision to pursue lethal actions is never an easy one but the circumstances around this wolf’s repeated depredation history made this a difficult but necessary decision,” said CPW Director Laura Clellan in the press release. “The producers impacted by these depredations have worked diligently with CPW to identify and deploy all viable and reasonable non-lethal tools and techniques identified through their site assessment and consultation with our field staff.”

CPW said that a final report on the lethal removal efforts will be posted to the agency’s website when complete.

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