USDA Officials Kill Colorado Wolf that Crossed into Wyoming and Killed Five Sheep

Gray wolves are in the news again, this time because one of Colorado’s recently introduced gray wolves crossed into Wyoming, killed five sheep and was killed by U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife officials. The GPS-collared wolf, known as 2505-BC, was one of the 15 wolves transported to Colorado from British Columbia in January following passage of a 2020 ballot initiative mandating the species’ reintroduction, which passed by less than 1 percent.

As the officials took note of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) collar around the wolf’s neck, CPW received a mortality alert. In an official announcement, CPW explained, “Wolves are known to travel long distances to find food or mates, including into other states. The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in Wyoming was conducting livestock depredation mitigation in response to multiple livestock losses in Wyoming.” It added that it does not comment on wildlife movements, operations or regulations in other states and directed those seeking further information to contact APHIS, which is tasked with providing wildlife services and protecting agriculture, wildlife and other natural resources, property and human health and safety.

Of course, wildlife species do not understand state boundaries, and the wolf did not know it was supposed to stay in Colorado to help populate the species. Any of the 30 Colorado wolves that cross into Wyoming may meet the same fate in a state that not only has protocol in place to address depredation using lethal means but also a wolf hunting season to keep populations in check as managers of America’s renewable wildlife resources work to balance predator and prey species alike.

In the meantime, as Colorado’s reintroduced wolves do what wolves do—inside and outside state boundaries—the CPW Commission continues to issue depredation payments to farmers and ranchers and already has relocated some of the wolves for killing livestock. Adding to the concern, CPW commissioners just approved $343,415 in depredation payments, which leaves only $6,585 in the depredation compensation fund.