Colorado wolves extend territory toward state’s southern border

Colorado wolves territory now nears three of the state s four borders as the apex predators continue to expand their territory across the Western Slope a new map circulated by state wildlife administrators shows At least one of Colorado s collared wolves for the first time pushed into southwest Colorado including in watersheds northeast of Durango that include parts of San Juan La Plata and Archuleta counties The wolves territory now spreads from near the Utah territory line west of Montrose to the Wyoming dividing line north of Walden to near the New Mexico perimeter outside of Pagosa Springs The canines also remained in watersheds just west of metro Denver in Boulder Gilpin and Clear Creek counties the map shows Any Colorado wolves that wander into Utah New Mexico or Arizona will be retrieved and brought back to the Centennial State under agreements state wildlife leaders inked with those neighboring states Colorado does not have a similar agreement with Wyoming and two wolves relocated from Canada in January for the state s reintroduction effort have been killed after navigating the state s northern boundary Four of the wolves captured in Canada and circulated here in January have died two were killed in Wyoming one died in Rocky Mountain National Park and a fourth died May in northwest Colorado Three of the wolves issued in December as the first wave of the voter-mandated reintroduction initiative have since died though a pair from that group also produced five pups Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists have declared the survival rate among the reintroduced animals remains within the expected range Wildlife leaders continue to monitor four prospective den sites but have not seen any pups from this year s breeding season yet CPW spokesman Travis Duncan announced Wednesday Related Articles Lions roaring at a m and beer cans in the bear exhibit Wild Animal Sanctuary frets over housing rise next door Dire wolf scientists should know de-extinction is a fool s errand Opinion Map Colorado s gray wolves roamed closer to metro Denver farther south in mountains Reintroduced Colorado gray wolf dies in Rocky Mountain National Park Second reintroduced Colorado gray wolf dies in Wyoming The release of the latest map follows reports from ranchers of wolves killing and injuring multiple livestock outside Aspen over Memorial Day weekend Wolves killed two calves and injured others at Lost Marbles Ranch Crystal River Ranch and McCabe Ranch according to a news release from the Colorado Cattlemen s Association While a great number of in the general romanticize the idea of seeing a wolf local ranchers live with the daily reality of fear stress and loss the association declared in a news release Since calving began in early March emotional strain has continued to mount taking a profound toll on families As of Wednesday afternoon CPW agents had not added the attacks to the agency s list of endorsed wolf depredations So far in wolves have killed or injured four head of livestock and one dog Since wolves were reintroduced to the state in December the animals have killed or injured head of cattle nine sheep two dogs and one llama Get more Colorado news by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter