Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officers are actively searching for a second wolf from the Copper Creek Pack to euthanize, following yet another confirmed livestock attack in Pitkin County on July 18.
According to CPW spokesperson Luke Perkins, the team has been on the ground since July 20, attempting to track the pack.
“The terrain is challenging at best, and staff have not been able to get close to the wolves after multiple attempts,” Perkins said in an email. “Staff will continue to monitor locations and attempt to intervene if possible.”
Persistent Livestock Conflicts Since March
The Copper Creek Pack has now been linked to seven confirmed depredations in Pitkin County since March. Despite previous efforts to deter the wolves, conflict continues.
On May 29, CPW lethally removed a yearling male wolf, identified as 2405, using electronic calls to lure the pack. The wolf was targeted because:
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He was not a breeding member of the pack
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He was involved in a depredation incident alone
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His removal was unlikely to disrupt pack reproduction
The goal was to change the pack’s behavior and discourage livestock predation. However, the July 18 attack confirms those efforts weren’t enough.
CPW Initiates New Lethal Control Operation
In response to the latest incident, CPW launched additional lethal control efforts starting July 20. The decision follows CPW’s chronic depredation management directive, which supports an incremental approach:
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First remove a wolf involved in attacks
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Closely monitor the pack’s behavior
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If attacks continue, remove another wolf
Perkins emphasized that any lethal action must target a specific wolf confirmed to be involved in livestock attacks. The agency aims to deter further depredation while still preserving the pack’s long-term reproductive success.
Controversial History of the Copper Creek Pack
The Copper Creek Pack has drawn public scrutiny since its formation in 2024. Originally from Grand County, the pack was captured after multiple livestock killings. The original patriarch died from a prior gunshot wound after being brought to a wildlife sanctuary.
In January, CPW released the surviving matriarch and four yearlings into Pitkin County. The matriarch later bred with a wolf from British Columbia, producing more pups this spring.
The first confirmed livestock attack in Pitkin County occurred in March, shortly after the pack’s release. Since then, conflicts with ranchers have persisted, keeping the Copper Creek Pack at the center of Colorado’s evolving wolf management debate.
CPW’s actions are permitted under a 10(j) rule exemption granted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, allowing for targeted wolf removals in cases of chronic livestock depredation.
Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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