DENVER, Colo. (RFD News) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife is temporarily suspending its directive allowing the state to kill gray wolves responsible for repeated livestock attacks.
According to the Colorado Sun, the decision follows concerns about wolf survival and population growth. Colorado currently has 45 known wolves, including 20 pups, but adult survival has fallen below rates typically seen in populations that are not hunted.
CPW is also investigating hair loss in wolves from two northwestern Colorado packs that could be linked to an infectious skin parasite.
The state killed four wolves following livestock attacks in 2026, including three in September. CPW says it will evaluate future requests for lethal removal more conservatively while the directive is under review.
The agency plans to revise the directive by April 2027. Until then, CPW will continue working with livestock producers on nonlethal measures, compensation, and permits that allow wolves to be killed when caught attacking livestock.
