CPW Concludes Lethal Removal of Wolves From Copper Creek and Three Creeks Packs

Description: Colorado Parks and Wildlife concluded lethal removal operations for two uncollared yearling wolves from the Copper Creek and Three Creeks Packs following chronic livestock depredation events...

CPW concludes lethal removal efforts for Copper Creek and Three Creek Packs wolves in Pitkin and Rio Blanco counties

September 8, 2026

DENVER – On Sept. 7, 2026, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and its agents concluded two separate lethal removal operations in Pitkin and Rio Blanco counties.

Copper Creek Pack
CPW and its agents lethally removed an uncollared male yearling wolf from the Copper Creek Pack in Pitkin County. This management action is in line with CPW’s statutory and regulatory authority and its administrative directive concerning chronic depredation as a response to four confirmed depredation events that occurred in July, August and September in Pitkin County. 

Three Creeks Pack
CPW and its agents lethally removed an uncollared male yearling wolf from the Three Creeks Pack in Rio Blanco County. This management action is also in line with CPW’s statutory and regulatory authority and its administrative directive concerning chronic depredation as a response to four confirmed depredation events that occurred in August and September in Rio Blanco County. 

“CPW’s field staff in Northwest Colorado is working hard to implement conflict minimization tools and techniques to help reduce wolf-livestock conflict in the region,” said CPW Director Laura Clellan. “We remain committed to both Colorado’s livestock producers and efforts to support our growing wolf population. I would like to thank our staff for their efforts and the impacted producers whose trust and collaboration is crucial as we navigate this challenge.”

These depredation events occurred despite producers pursuing non-lethal conflict minimization efforts and met CPW’s definition of chronic depredation (three depredation events in 30 days with at least one being determined by clear and convincing evidence).

Producers affected by these depredations had implemented a variety of non-lethal deterrence methods. These included:

• Increased active monitoring including deployment of cellular connected cameras

• Active human presence including deployment of range riders

• and hazing, when possible

In line with CPW’s administrative directive concerning chronic depredation the agency will now be evaluating whether the removal effort has achieved the agency’s goal of changing the behavior of these packs. Non-lethal conflict reduction tools and techniques utilized by producers will continue to be implemented throughout the evaluation period.

CPW’s decisions to lethally remove these uncollared wolves were made in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and in accordance with applicable legal requirements, including the USFWS 10(j) rule.

CPW continues to work with producers to implement non-lethal deterrents and continually evaluates new non-lethal tools and techniques to reduce conflict between livestock and gray wolves in Northwest Colorado.
 
During the summer months, due to the size of pastures and allotments where the majority of livestock reside — often tens of thousands of acres — some of the most effective tools are range riders and remote cameras which support continuous monitoring and adaptive response. Some producers also incorporate guardian dogs and herders into their operations based on the circumstances of the landscape they are grazing and the livestock they are raising. 

To assist with conflict minimization during the grazing season CPW increased the number of range riders contracted through the Colorado Range Rider Program in 2026. These riders have already ridden more than 20,000 miles and provided more than 6,000 hours of coverage and support to producers.

Final reports on these lethal removal efforts will be posted to the CPW website when complete.

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