Feds Question CPW Management of Controversial Program
Trevor Phipps
Even though the number of wild wolves in Colorado have never exceeded 50 since voters chose to re-introduce them in 2020, the fate of this release program has triggered much controversy across the state and local region, a trend that is expected to continue for some time.
Recently, the federal government joined the battle and threatened to strip away Colorado’s authority to manage its wolf population. This emerged as welcome news for area ranchers, but is opposed by those advocating a heathier ecosystem, such as operators of the Divide-based Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center. Leaders of the Wolf and Wildlife Center have expressed much support for the state’s wolf introduction program.
Several key state politicians point their fingers at President Donald Trump, saying that it is just another way for the GOP president to get back at Colorado for being a blue state, and for ignoring his symbolic pardon of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters. Peters was sentenced to nine years behind bars for her role in breaching security during a previous election. State authorities, though, have refused to abide by Trump’s request.
Last December, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) sent a letter to the state ordering them to “cease and desist” with their plans to reintroduce another group of wolves from British Columbia, Canada. After the news, state officials pursued other option to no avail. Several states and Native American tribes in the Rocky Mountain region have refused to give wolves to Colorado.
But the Colorado’s Division of Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has stated that they are not giving up as they plan to look for other options for a reintroduction next winter.
“During this intermediate time, CPW will continue to meet with producers and other stakeholders, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to explore how to maximize the restoration effort and achieve our plan of establishing a self-sustaining gray wolf population in Colorado,” CPW Acting Director Laura Clellan said in a press release. “Our team has invested in a significant conflict minimization program, and we look forward to exploring how we continue to improve this program with producers to protect both livestock and wolves.”
The news came after USFWS Director Brian Nesvik sent a letter on Dec 18 that demanded CPW send a detailed account of all its efforts to bring wolves back to the state. Nesvik mentioned the release of the wolves from Canada and the re-release of a wolf that had a history of attacking livestock as reasons for his new stance.
Nesvik previously gave the state a month to supply the information he requested. Nesvik also warned that a failure to do so could result in the federal agency stripping away the state’s authority to manage its wolf population altogether. CPW authorities have stated that they plan to comply with all of the requests from the federal government.
Reaction to the state’s decision to pause the wolf reintroduction program has been mixed. Local and state ranchers and many rural property owners have greeted the news with much relief, noting that the entire program needs more review. Conservation and wildlife advocates, though, contend that the main goal of the program, aimed at creating a heathier ecosystem, is now in danger. They also worry about the self-sustaining future of the current wolves, which now roam parts of rural Colorado.
The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center recently raised concerns regarding the pause action, noting in a post online, “This places Colorado’s wolf restoration effort at real risk. When populations are this small, every individual matters. Skipping an entire release season increases the likelihood that mortality could outpace recovery, undermining the goal of establishing a self-sustaining population. CPW has invested heavily in conflict minimization—range riders, compensation programs, expanded deterrents, site assessments, and dedicated staff—to protect both livestock and wolves. These efforts matter. But they cannot replace the biological need for sufficient founder animals. Restoration depends on follow-through, coordination, and honoring prior commitments. Without additional releases, the path forward becomes far more uncertain—and the future of wolf restoration in Colorado is put in peril.”
However, cattle rancher groups in Colorado cite the large number of livestock deaths since the program started, and the large costs for maintaining the program.
One overriding concern also deals with the large number of wolf-related deaths.
The First Wolf Death of 2026
On Jan. 20, CPW announced that, yet another wolf reintroduced from Canada has died. “Colorado Parks and Wildlife was alerted of the mortality of female gray wolf 2504 on January 16, 2026,” stated CPW officials. “The agency has confirmed the mortality took place in northwest Colorado. A final determination of the cause of death will not be made until the investigation is completed, including the necropsy, a foundational component of the overall investigation process. (The latest death) was part of the group of wolves translocated to Colorado from British Columbia in January 2025.”
The recent wolf death marks the first for 2026, but it is the 13th since Colorado started bringing wolves back at the end of 2023. Four out of the 10 wolves that were first brought in from Oregon in 2023 have passed away. Further, seven out of the 15 relocated from Canada have also been found deceased.
Even though the cause of death for the last wolf mortality has not been released, the reasons for their deaths have varied. One was hit by a car while others have succumbed to mountain lion attacks. One wolf died after being shot.
Wild Wolves Getting Closer to Teller
Ever since wolves have been reintroduced to Colorado, they have basically avoided Teller County and most of the Front Range. There was one incident where a lone female wolf travelled into the western part of the county last year, but her visit didn’t last long.
However, for the last couple of months, CPW has tracked wolves in water sheds located in neighboring counties. In November and December, wolves were tracked travelling into a water shed in Park County that encompasses Fairplay, Hartsel and Guffey. These reports have provided much angst among ranch and private property owners in parts of Teller.
According to the latest wolf map that was released last month the wolves haven’t move much. For the most part, the animals have stayed on the northern part of the state with some hanging out in the south near the New Mexico border.
There were some recent movements of wolves closer to Teller though as some were tracked just north of the county. They reached a new water shed in northeastern Park County. They also traveled into parts of southern Jefferson County which shares a corner border with Teller
Even though more wolves are not slated to be released this year, experts say it could just be a matter of time before the wild animals make a return to the Ute Pass region.
