One of Colorado's released wolves found dead in Larimer County
One of Colorado's 10 released wolves has been found dead in Larimer County.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service told the Coloradoan on April 23 it was made aware of the deceased gray wolf April 18 and determined it was one of the wolves captured in Oregon and released in Grand or Summit counties in late December as part of the state's reintroduction program.
The agency said it has sent the carcass for a necropsy to determine the cause of death but that initial evidence suggests it likely died of natural causes. That can include such things as being killed by a mountain lion or other predator. It said a final determination will not be made until a necropsy is completed.
No other details surrounding the death are available at this time, the agency said.
This is the first reported death of one of the wolves released Dec. 18-23.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife's wolf activity map for Feb. 28 through March 25 showed a wolf or wolves at some point during that time as being in extreme western Larimer County. The map divides areas up into watersheds.
That watershed is approximately 60 to 70 miles north and east of the wolf release sites.
A new map is expected to be released soon for activity in late March and most of April.
All 10 of the released wolves and the two existing North Park pack wolves were fitted with GPS tracking collars that send signals to biologists, who can learn where wolves have been but not where wolves are at a current point in time nor where the wolves will go.
More: Colorado's released wolves believed to have den in vicinity of recent cattle kills
Other released wolves have been detected in Moffat County, about 70 miles northwest of the release sites.
Some of the released wolves have been confirmed to have killed livestock near Kremmling in recent weeks, which has riled ranchers.
The Larimer County wolf death comes just more than two weeks after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was notified of a canid death in Elbert County, which is on Colorado's Eastern Plains.
The agency said it was made aware of the death in Elbert County on April 3. Genetic testing confirmed it was a gray wolf from the Great Lakes wolf population.
According to a story in The Fence Post, a rancher discovered a wolf-like animal in a legal coyote trap on April 3 and reported it to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Wolves are a federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act.
This is a developing story that may be updated.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: One of Colorado's released wolves found dead in Larimer County
