Colorado wolves: Pup spotted, depredations becoming less frequent

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife commissioners met Friday to discuss several aspects of wildlife management in Colorado, including its voter-mandated reintroduced wolf program.

Reid DeWalt, assistant director of Aquatics, Terrestrial, and Natural Resources for CPW, told the commissioners that CPW staff made it to the den, in a remote, difficult-to-access area. DeWalt said biologists spotted one pup but still monitoring the den and rendezvous site for evidence of how many wolf pups may have been born.

The pup was first spotted on June 18 in Grand County, resulting in CPW biologists naming the mated wolf pair and pup(s) the “Copper Creek Pack.” Typically, wolves have four to six wolves in each litter, according to CPW.

DeWalt also discussed recent wolf depredations. Depredations occur when wolves attack or take a livestock producer’s animal for food, essentially stealing from the business, and it’s been the cause of concern for many ranchers and livestock producers in Jackson and Grand Counties. Wolf depredations can leave livestock injured, if not dead.

Some of the repeated depredations in Jackson and Grand may have been to support the denning wolf pair in the area. Cattle producers asked the state to lethally remove the wolves earlier this year. However, CPW Director Jeff Davis wrote in April that the state would not be removing the male wolf of the possibly denning pair in Grand County.

Three depredation incidents have been reported to CPW this month, with two in Routt County, each involving one calf, and one in Grand County involving one sheep. Livestock producers can file a claim with CPW to qualify for financial compensation, up to the fair market value of the animal.

According to the information provided by CPW, the state has issued $26,407 in compensation for wolf depredations since December 2021. So far this year, just $1,514 was issued for a single claim filed. One other claim was filed but is still pending.

However, officials say the depredations are becoming more sporadic.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.