Colorados gray wolf reintroduction program has encountered another setback. On May 31, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) received a mortality alert for a male wolf, designated 2507, in the states northwest region. This wolf, relocated from British Columbia in January 2025, is the sixth to die this year and the ninth since the reintroduction initiative began in December 2023.

　　Ongoing Investigations Into Wolf Deaths As gray wolves are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for investigating their deaths. The causes of death for several wolves remain under investigation, including one found dead in Rocky Mountain National Park on April 20 and another in northwest Colorado on May 15.

　　Wolf Management and Population Dynamics CPW has stated that wolf survival rates in Colorado are within expected norms for a reintroduced population. Travis Duncan, a CPW spokesperson, noted that survival is often lower for dispersing, non-territorial wolves, which comprise most of Colorados current population.

　　The states Wolf Restoration and Management Plan includes provisions for reviewing translocation protocols if survival rates fall below 70% over 6 months. With six deaths among an estimated 30 wolves since January, the current survival rate is approximately 80%.

　　The reintroduction of gray wolves to Colorado, initiated by a voter-approved measure in 2020, aims to restore the species to its native habitat. While challenges persist, including mortality and human-wildlife conflicts, state and federal agencies continue to adapt management strategies to support the wolves successful reintegration.

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