LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. — A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report obtained by 9NEWS Investigates shows where and how a wolf was killed, most likely by a mountain lion, in northern Colorado earlier this year.
The tracking collar from Colorado's wolf 2303 sent a mortality signal from Larimer County on April 18, after the wolf stopped moving, according to the wolf mortality report.
The report confirms what Colorado Parks and Wildlife has said, which is that the wolf was most likely killed by a mountain lion.
“In my opinion, necropsy findings are consistent with depredation as the cause of death. Measurements of skull puncture wound distances could be consistent with mountain lion (Puma concolor) though this is not definitive and assumes paired maxillary canine punctures were present and correctly identified," a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wolf mortality report states.
The wolf's body was found under a tree, the report states. Coordinates from the report show the wolf was found along Stink Creek, near the Wyoming state line.
9NEWS received the mortality report and necropsy through a Freedom of Information Act request. Here is where the wolf was found:
When CPW released the wolf into Colorado, the state weighed the yearling male at 76 pounds.
Wildlife officials recovered a partial carcass of the animal, weighing about 66 pounds. Inside the wolf's stomach, the investigators found hair from an animal in the deer family.
The wolf had a laceration between its eyes, as well as several punctures into its skull.
This picture shows four punctures and a divot into the left side of the wolf's skull.
This image shows two punctures into the right side of the wolf's skull.
The report concludes the wolf died from a trauma due to predation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fully redacted 28 pages from the death investigation, arguing "Releasing them could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source.."
The death investigation did not find that any laws were broken.
A CPW spokesperson says they believe the state currently has 11 wolves. CPW reintroduced 10 wolves in December 2023. This wolf died in April, but the state believes there is a pup in Grand County. CPW also believes there is a wolf that naturally migrated from Wyoming.
Ranchers continue to express concerns about wolves killing livestock. The state reports wolves have killed 23 sheep and cows so far this year.
