DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced Sunday that it successfully captured 15 gray wolves from the central interior of British Columbia and released them into Colorado, in addition to the five members of the Copper Creek pack previously captured in Colorado.
The releases were done separately, the agency said in a press release Sunday, and all wolves were released into Eagle and Pitkin counties. This is the second of between three to five wolf release seasons.
"CPW has a responsibility to balance the safety of staff and the animals with the level and timing of information provided during this complex wildlife operation," the agency said in its Sunday release. "Unfortunately, staff safety was threatened as CPW offices were watched and threatening social media posts and phone calls were received."
CPW went on to note that two of the 10 wolves introduced in December 2023 have been "illegally shot," and that gray wolves are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act and state law.
![Wolf runs across a snow-covered field in British Columbia as a helicopter flies overhead during capture operations in January 2025.]()
Wolf runs across a snow-covered field in British Columbia as a helicopter flies overhead during capture operations in January 2025. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) ![]()
CPW staff stands over crate completing paper after releasing five gray wolves in Colorado on Jan. 16, 2025. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) ![]()
CPW staff prepares to move a recently captured gray wolf from a helicopter during capture operations in British Columbia in January 2025. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) ![]()
Gray Wolf stands outside of its crate for a brief moment at the release site on Jan. 14, 2025. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) ![]()
Gray Wolf travels into the distance at the release site on Jan. 14, 2025. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife) ![]()
Gray wolf sits in a temporary pen awaiting transport to Colorado during capture operations in British Columbia in January 2025. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) ![]()
Helicopter on the ground after capturing a gray wolf during capture operations in British Columbia in January 2025. (Courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife) ![]()
A gray wolf is carried from the helicopter to the site where it will be checked by CPW staff in January 2025. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
"Because of the safety risk and security needs of our staff and the animals, CPW did not share wolf release details while the operation was underway," the agency said. The agency also did not share release details in real-time during the 2023 wolf release.
What wolves were captured and how
CPW said it took biologists six days to capture the 15 wolves in British Columbia, Canada. The agency said it captured seven males and eight females. The area where the wolves were captured is part of a predator reduction area to help the caribou population recovery. CPW will pay for all costs incurred in the capture and release.
"Animal welfare and safety was prioritized throughout all stages of the project and followed an approved Animal Care Plan," CPW said.
The wolves that were transported received vaccines and a GPS collar. The agency said one wolf passed away after it was captured.
"An examination was conducted by onsite veterinary staff and noted that the animal’s age and underlying condition may have contributed to the death," the agency said.
The new wolves were reintroduced in waves of five on three dates — five each on Jan. 12, 14 and 16 in Eagle and Pitkin counties. The agency said it "worked expeditiously as possible post-capture" in BC to release the animals in Colorado. Due to the travel times and border inspections, all three releases occurred in the evening.
"This binational effort was conducted by a professional team of experts from two jurisdictions,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis in the agency's Sunday release. “From the veterinarians and biologists to the helicopter pilots and wildlife officers, this team worked together to ensure a safe and successful outcome for this year’s capture and release efforts that also prioritized the health and safety of staff and animals.”
CPW noted that BC has "an abundant gray wolf population, estimated to be in the range of 5,300 and 11,600 animals."
Copper Creek pack members re-released on Saturday
The Copper Creek female and four pups were successfully re-released into the Colorado wilderness on Jan. 18, CPW reported Sunday.
The department said its wildlife veterinarians had evaluated the pups' and female wolf's health since they had been captured in late August and determined they were all in good condition.
"The pups were released with the female to ensure that they learn to hunt," CPW said in its release. "This gives the animals the best chance at survival, furthering the goal of successfully restoring wolves in Colorado."
Each wolf was fitted with a GPS collar to track the animals after release. All five will be closely monitored, the agency said, noting the significant concerns livestock producers have with those wolves' release. The pack is implicated in several livestock deaths and repeated attacks that damaged Colorado ranchers' crops, resulting in their capture in August and September.
The adult male wolf of the pack was also found to have been shot prior to capture, leading to the wolf's poor condition at capture and later death.
"As I said at the time, options in the case of the Copper Creek Pack were very limited, and this action is by no means a precedent for how CPW will resolve wolf-livestock conflict moving forward. The male adult wolf was involved in multiple depredations. Removing the male at that time, while he was the sole source of food and the female was denning, would likely have been fatal to the pups and counter to the restoration mandate,” said Davis in CPW's announcement.
The agency said the capture of the pack was a management action "to change the behavior of the animals to reduce" the killing of livestock and "could further impact the adult female's behavior moving forward." The agency didn't expound on that topic in its release.
“As restoration efforts continue, CPW is committed to working with livestock owners, communities, state agencies and all partners to reduce the likelihood of wolf-livestock conflict. Our goal is to keep ranchers ranching, while at the same time restoring a healthy, sustainable population of gray wolves to Colorado as mandated,” said Davis in Sunday's release.
Livestock and agricultural groups had petitioned the state to delay any new wolf reintroductions in 2025, asking the state agency to meet seven benchmarks before proceeding with adding more of the animals to the state's landscape. Conversely, pro-wolf reintroduction groups asked the commission to continue with reintroduction efforts.
The CPW Commission voted 10-1 to deny the petition, green-lighting the wolf reintroductions. Commission members were told by experts that delaying the reintroduction would have prevented mating in 2025 and would not have bolstered population numbers for wolves in Colorado.
Groups applaud release of more gray wolves into Colorado
Groups that have been vocal about their stances on gray wolves in the state released statements about the new wolves in Colorado's landscape.
Courtney Vail, Rocky Mountain Wolf Project board chair, celebrated the achievement and shared a written statement.
“Colorado’s arms are open to these pioneering and resilient wolves. We are beside them, rooting for their success and wellbeing," Vail wrote. "Likewise, we are ever thankful for the professionals in charge of their stewardship. While others, in decades past, paved the way with successful wolf reintroductions in surrounding states, Colorado’s endeavor is historic because it is state-led and reflects the will of our citizens.”
Vail is also a member of CPW's ad hoc working group. She said via email that she has emphasized the importance of collaboration between ranchers, CPW personnel and wolf advocates, to minimize conflicts between livestock production and wolves.