Colorado Wolf Pack Faces Jeopardy After Multiple Deaths

Colorado's largest wolf pack, the One Ear pack, is in jeopardy after two of its members were lethally removed by wildlife officials in the past five weeks. The most recent removal, an uncollared female yearling, occurred on September 9, following the death of an uncollared male yearling on August 4. These actions stem from a significant increase in livestock depredations attributed to the pack along the Grand-Jackson county line.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife justified the lethal removals by its definition of chronic depredation: three or more attacks within 30 days by the same wolf or wolves. Following the August 4 removal, the agency confirmed seven additional depredations by the One Ear Pack, despite efforts to implement nonlethal deterrence methods with affected ranchers. This transparency issue has been highlighted, as Colorado does not publicly announce its intent to lethally remove wolves, unlike states such as Oregon and Washington.

The One Ear pack, which comprised nine wolves as of March 31, has seen further losses. In addition to the two yearlings killed by officials, another uncollared yearling is suspected to have been killed by a vehicle in late July, though this incident is still under investigation. Wildlife officials have killed five wolves in three months due to escalating livestock attacks across multiple counties. The state recorded 51 confirmed depredations as of September 6, a stark increase from the 37 confirmed depredations in 2025, which resulted in approximately $1 million in claims awarded to ranchers.