Causes of death in 2 Colorado gray wolves released

The deaths of two reintroduced gray wolves in Colorado this spring were connected to a mountain lion attack and a coyote trap state wildlife functionaries commented Wednesday A collared female gray wolf that died in Rocky Mountain National Park in April was killed in a mountain lion attack according to an examination led by the U S Fish and Wildlife Operation A second collared female gray wolf unveiled dead in northwest Colorado in May died from its injuries after it was caught in a coyote trap Colorado Parks and Wildlife agents stated While those kinds of traps are usually banned livestock producers can use them for a -day stretch if they meet certain criteria which was the development here The person who trapped the wolf notified state wildlife executives who then circulated the wolf but CPW received a signal from the wolf s collar the next day that it had died State personnel suspended all -day trap permits for foothold traps snares and instant-kill traps pending further review the agency stated Federal wildlife representatives are still analyzing the May death of a collared male gray wolf Reintroduced gray wolves in Colorado are surviving at normal rates and the average gray wolf lives between and years in the Rocky Mountains according to CPW Related Articles Boebert s bill to delist gray wolves not surprising given her little hats comment Opinion Wolf depredation The tie should go to the ranchers Letters How Rep Lauren Boebert s bill to delist gray wolves would affect Colorado s wolf reintroduction Colorado Parks and Wildlife kills wolf linked to livestock attacks on Western Slope Seventh relocated gray wolf death published in northwest Colorado State personnel named three new wolf packs in Routt Jackson and Rio Blanco counties this summer and validated the birth of at least four pups Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter