One of Colorado’s 10 released wolves has been found dead in Larimer County.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service told the Coloradoan on April 23 it was made aware of the deceased gray wolf April 18 and determined it was one of the wolves captured in Oregon and released in Grand or Summit counties in late December as part of the state’s reintroduction program.
The agency said it has sent the carcass for a necropsy to determine the cause of death but that initial evidence suggests it likely died of natural causes. It said a final determination will not be made until a necropsy is completed.
No other details surrounding the death are available at this time, the agency said.
This is the first reported death of one of the wolves released Dec. 18-23.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s wolf activity map for Feb. 28 through March 25 showed a wolf or wolves at some point during that time as being in extreme western Larimer County. The map divides areas up into watersheds.
That watershed is approximately 60 to 70 miles north and east of the wolf release sites.