Colorado wildlife agency identifies wolf likely killed by mountain lion

Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·2 min read

The wolf that was likely killed by a mountain lion in Larimer County last month has been identified.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife told the Coloradoan on Thursday the wolf that was found dead April 18 wore GPS collar No. 2303. That wolf was a juvenile gray male and weighed 76 pounds at the time of its release in late December, as previously reported by the wildlife agency when the wolves were released.

The wolf was among five captured in Oregon and released in Grand County on Dec. 18. The wolf belonged to the Five Points pack in Oregon.

The wildlife agency also said the wolf was found on Bureau of Land Management property in northern Larimer County. The only BLM land in the county is located in the far northwest corner, next to Wyoming.

The agency's latest wolf activity map for March 26 through April 23 showed a notable expansion of wolf movement in Larimer County.

That is likely represented by wolf No. 2303.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has a policy of not releasing wolf collar numbers to enhance the safety of the animals.

In this case, it made an exception.

In an email response to the Coloradoan's request to release the collar number, agency spokesperson Travis Duncan wrote, "CPW is only revealing the identity of this wolf because it was alone, and is now deceased. The agency has determined that revealing this wolf’s identity is unlikely to provide information on the location of other wolves.”

The agency said it will not provide additional information on this wolf’s movements or on any living wolves. At last report, the remaining nine released wolves were alive.

An initial necropsy by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released May 14 found the cause of death to the wolf as "trauma, consistent with predation. Though not definitive, the puncture wounds in the skull are consistent with those typically inflicted by a mountain lion.”

Where the wolf was found dead is believed to be about 75 miles in a straight line from where the animal was released southwest of Kremmling.

Here are the first wolves captured in Oregon and released in Colorado

First five wolves released Dec. 18 in Grand County. The OR stands for Oregon, where they were captured:

  • 2302-OR: Juvenile female, black color, 68 lbs., Five Points Pack

  • 2303-OR: Juvenile male, gray color, 76 lbs., Five Points Pack. This one was found dead in Larimer County on April 18.

  • 2304-OR: Juvenile female, gray color, 76 lbs., Noregaard Pack

  • 2305-OR: Juvenile male, black color, 93 lbs., Noregaard Pack

  • 2307-OR: Adult male, gray color, 108 lbs., Wenaha Pack

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado Parks and Wildlife releases identity of wolf killed in April