• The CPW Commission approved one rancher's claim for wolf depredation totaling $32,768 but tabled another claim of $2,542.41 for further review of labor costs.
• Colorado's wolf reintroduction program is ongoing with 26 known wolves in the state and continued monitoring of wolf movements and potential denning activity.
• Conflict minimization efforts, including range riders and fladry, are being implemented to mitigate wolf-livestock interactions and support ranchers.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission met in Durango to discuss various topics related to wolves in Colorado. The meeting included discussions and decisions on wolf depredation claims filed by ranchers, updates on the state's wolf reintroduction program, and the presentation of a new wolf movement map. The Commission approved one depredation claim and tabled another to further examine the inclusion of labor costs. Updates on the reintroduction program detailed the current wolf population, tracking efforts, and conflict minimization strategies.

• What: The CPW Commission addressed wolf depredation claims, provided updates on the wolf reintroduction program, and presented a new wolf movement map.
• Who: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, ranchers (Don Gittleston), CPW staff (Travis Black, Brian Dreher, Eric Odell), wolves.
• When: Meeting held on Wednesday, updates on wolf movements between late March and late April 2025, wolf reintroduction began in December 2023.
• Where: Durango, Colorado; Jackson County, Pitkin County, Eagle County, Grand County, Moffat County, Ralston Creek watershed, British Columbia (Canada).

The CPW Commission's meeting highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities of wolf reintroduction in Colorado. Balancing the needs of ranchers with wildlife conservation efforts requires careful consideration and adaptive management strategies. The approval of one depredation claim and the tabling of another demonstrates the Commission's attempt to navigate these competing interests. The wolf reintroduction program faces challenges like wolf mortality, but CPW is committed to establishing a self-sustaining population. Conflict minimization efforts are crucial for mitigating wolf-livestock interactions and fostering coexistence.

My time on this animal is a loss that I incur. This was not an animal that I needed to treat once or twice and then we were done with... This needs to get resolved.

These mortalities are unfortunate in our sense of trying to establish a self-sustaining population of wolves, but it does not, in any way, indicate a failure of the program.

We do not have wolves in highly metropolitan and urbanized areas. That’s just a function of an animal being in the very far western portion of that watershed.

The CPW Commission's recent meeting underscores the ongoing efforts to manage wolf populations and address the concerns of ranchers in Colorado. The approval of one depredation claim and the continued discussion of another reflect the complexities of compensating livestock losses due to wolf activity. The state's wolf reintroduction program is progressing, with a focus on monitoring wolf movements, mitigating conflicts, and establishing a sustainable wolf population. Future meetings and policy decisions will be crucial in shaping the long-term success of wolf management in Colorado.