GRAND COUNTY, Colo. — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) on Thursday confirmed the death of a wolf found dead in Grand County.
CPW said in a news release that it received a mortality signal from the GPS collar on male wolf 2307-OR on Monday, and CPW staff confirmed the death on Tuesday.
The gray wolf was among 10 released in Grand County in December 2023 as part of the state's reintroduction efforts. Four of the wolves were male, and the other six were female.
"While this is sad news, these types of restoration efforts consider anticipated mortalities in our planning and a degree of wolf mortality, just like for any wildlife, is expected both during restoration efforts and on an ongoing basis,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis.
CPW said it is in direct consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about the next steps for the wolf, including a necropsy, because it is listed under the Endangered Species Act.
CPW did not reveal the wolf's cause of death or say whether it had any injuries.
This is the third wolf reintroduced to Colorado that has died.
A wolf was found dead in April in Larimer County. A necropsy found a mountain lion most likely killed it.
On Monday, CPW said the male adult wolf in the Copper Creek pack died shortly after wildlife officials captured all six wolves from that pack. The wolf was in poor condition when it was captured. He was underweight and had several injuries to his right hind leg, CPW said.
The other five wolves in the pack – the adult female and four pups – were healthy. CPW said they plan to continue to assess their health and eventually rerelease them into the wild.