CPW will remove Copper Creek Pack wolf

WLJ Aug. 15, 2025 1 minute read 23 comments

CPW will remove Copper Creek Pack wolf — Gray wolf.
U.S. National Park Service

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is working to kill at least one additional wolf from the Copper Creek Pack in Pitkin County after officials determined wolves killed a calf near Aspen in July, Aspen Public Radio reported.

CPW spokesperson Luke Perkins said investigators found a “preponderance of evidence” that the animal was injured by wolves before dying, with confirmation of the kill on July 18.

CPW has reported seven wolf attacks and eight confirmed kills since relocating the pack last winter. A young male wolf was killed on May 29, but incidents have continued, frustrating ranchers near the pack’s den site outside Snowmass, CO.

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23 Comments

James Sherrard
August 15, 2025
I would hope that the refunds for livestock depredation would be better funded and easier to apply for. The ranchers would be well compensated for the loss and any future losses. If this is not fixed there will always be issues with building wolf packs in ranchlands
Reply to James Sherrard
1. Debra, a birder
  August 16, 2025
  Killing wolves will never bye goodwill from ranchers or hunters.. it takes educated politicians with a backbone.. and continuesly correcting the lying narrative from stock producers assoc PR!
  Reply to Debra, a birder
2. Michael Bradley
  August 17, 2025
  That is all fine but who is going to keep paying for this when homeless people are starving in the streets.
  Reply to Michael Bradley
Laurie Rugenstein
August 16, 2025
Please do not kill the Copper Creek wolf family members. Research has shown that lethal removal disrupts pack dynamics and usually leads to more killing of livestock.
Reply to Laurie Rugenstein
Ellen Marmon
August 16, 2025
It's been pretty well documented that killing pack members doesn't reduce predation. Time to change to what we know works. The knowledge is there.
Reply to Ellen Marmon
Rebecca Tripp
August 16, 2025
Leave the wolves alone. They belong in the ecosystem. Cattle do not. The ranchers need to learn to adapt and co-exist or get out of the business.
Reply to Rebecca Tripp
russell cappelletti
August 17, 2025
94 million cattle on u.s. soil and less than 5000 wolves in the entire lower 48 states! where is any sense of equity here? these animals are essential ecosystem managers. let them do their work! the cattle industry will remain just fine as wolves actually take such a miniscule amount that its not even worth consideration! rattlesnakes and lightning kill more cattle than wolves! lets grow up and be real about this!
Reply to russell cappelletti
Lillian Monks
August 17, 2025
My main question is, are these ranchers using Coexistence techniques and proper animal husbandry for their livestock? Coexistence techniques have positive reviews and work - groups are willing to teach to ranchers. Are ranchers actually rotating their livestock and monitoring their locations? Are ranchers leaving carcass piles or are they properly buried to the correct depth, as well as cleaning afterbirth once young are born. There needs to be a balance and killing all the Wolves from this pack is not the answer!
Reply to Lillian Monks
Linda
August 17, 2025
There are more **** cows,let the wolves be
Reply to Linda
Anne Jarcew
August 17, 2025
You people are Neanderthal killers.The world is changing and leaving you behind.Canadian Reader
Reply to Anne Jarcew
Diana Beneteau
August 18, 2025
I have a pretty strong feeling the wildlife experts with CPW know that killing another of those Copper Creek Pack adults will NOT deter the others from depredation. This was the theory after killing one last Spring right? Show those wolves consequences and watch them retreat to the wilderness, never to return? They didn’t change, didn’t flee into the wilderness, they are habitually hunting livestock, they stay where prey animals are. Why would anyone believe killing one more would have different results? Shooting one of them again seems like a bandaid for your amputation…ineffective, a gesture and not a solution. Let’s not forget that this pack was re-captured after initial release in Grand County resulted in chronic depredation. The reason they were recaptured was depredation…but against the directive set by measure 114, set into law for wolf introduction policy agreement, the depredating pack was quietly released again in Pitkin county. Set free on private property ADJACENT to 2 ranches and subdivisions, failed to provide any notice to everyone including CPW field agents, is a grievous violation to the agreement laws!!The theory was a new location would alter their menu choices? Seriously? I don’t buy it, CPW IS BEING CRIMINALLY OVERRULED and the only office with that kind of power is the Governor’s. It makes no sense to anyone, what is going on? Looks like a vicious attack on rural producers and their rights to EXIST!It just REEKS of state interference and Jared, he makes no attempt to mask his outright contempt for our rural producers. He has proven himself unfit for his office at this point and should be investigated.Since the “agreement states” (The agreement is void at this point don’t you think?) for another 15 - 20 wolves to be captured in Canada for introduction, why not beg Canada to accept the entire Copper Creek pack? The Canadian wilderness is vast, no livestock within sight, why not make a deal for exchanging some wolves? Everyone knows the only way to stop habitual depredation is relocation far away or death.CPW kills one, then another, which leads to another, and another, and meanwhile more pups are born and the pattern continues at everyone’s expense and suffering indefinitely? That isn’t managing, that is enabling. The Copper Creek pack is a pack of violations that began in Oregon. Remove them.
Reply to Diana Beneteau
1. Maureen Gleason
  August 18, 2025
  God created all. Don't forget you were created too by God. So we're These wolves you purposely want killed off. These wolves have rights to live on this planet just like us humans. Why are other wild animals allowed to kill something to survive but wolves arent.
  Reply to Maureen Gleason
Maureen Gleason
August 18, 2025
Please leave these beautiful wolves alone. They have rights to live on this planet just like us humans. They need to eat too. They can't go to McDonald's or Wendy's.
Reply to Maureen Gleason
Paul Stuart
August 18, 2025
Stop the killing of innocence
Reply to Paul Stuart
Good Wolf
August 19, 2025
The Copper Creek Pack deserves respect They have been the victim of human error and the livestock industry continues to be anti- predator
Reply to Good Wolf
Martarl Hermanstein Jr.
August 19, 2025
Wolves barely make 1% of kills on calves while other factors usually cause calve-deaths mostly its seasonal weather and even birth defects rather than predators like Cougars, Grizzly bears which make up the 3% that do. Wolves have nothing to do with calf deaths most of the time and the killings on an already shrinking wolf population needs to stop. They are part of an ecosystem and play an important role in managing the herds of wild elk and deer herds and buffalo herds without them it just becomes another Yellowstone incident. It needs to stop the killings and more reintroductions need to happen.
Reply to Martarl Hermanstein Jr.
Angela Haupt
August 19, 2025
The wolves have a right to live also If we stopped taking their habitat they could find food
Reply to Angela Haupt
Shelley Pearce
August 19, 2025
Wolves help the eco system it's been proven. Leave them alone. Humans don't have to control everything.
Reply to Shelley Pearce
Earth Totem
August 19, 2025
Don't kill the wolf, better protect the calves. "Cattle farmer Cliff Lindberg says he's had no problem with wolves since he added donkeys to his farm at Bruce Crossing in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He says donkeys are fairly low maintenance and other farmers should consider adding them."
Reply to Earth Totem
Terry Chupik
August 19, 2025
Non lethal methods work, but looks like no one wants to try it. You are wrong for killing wolves. Many people have to try and make co habitation work. But YOU apparently don't care to try.
Reply to Terry Chupik
Margaret
August 19, 2025
Save the wolves they are more important than cows that will be slaughtered anyway. Ranchers have ways to live with wolves with non lethal ways they just don’t want to. They have paid to get wolves eliminated. But have been almost been killed out before people realized they are very important to the environment. So don’t let this happen again.
Reply to Margaret
Denise Mannisto
August 20, 2025
It is unwise to kill off this whole pack. Find ways to cohabitate. Its possible
Reply to Denise Mannisto
Susan Wolfe
August 22, 2025
Stuff your cattle up your greedy butts and leave the wolves alone. You have an actual video showing the attacks? Let's see it!!!
Reply to Susan Wolfe