A pack of recently released wolves heads toward state lines and approaches the Wyoming border.
Two wolves were confirmed to have recently entered Moffat County, which is less than 50 miles from the Wyoming border, where killing wolves is legal year-round.
John Michael Williams, a Colorado resident who manages the Colorado Wolf Tracker Facebook page, estimates the duo may cross the border in the next four to six weeks.
“If I had a crystal ball, what would I think? I think we'll have a crossover, or maybe a few crossovers, sometime within the next four to six weeks.
“And I think we’re going to see some of them get shot,” Williams told Cowboys State Daily.
Wyoming ranchers have previously said they are prepared to use any means necessary to defend their livestock if one of the wolves crosses the border.
By crossing the boundary line, a wolf enters Wyoming's 53 million-acre “predator zone” – which covers about 85 percent of the state – and transforms from a “state endangered” animal into one that can be shot on sight.
This allows ranchers to shoot or trap the wolves at any time, without the need for a license and without trapping restrictions.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife had already released ten endangered gray wolves with a GPS satellite collar into a remote forest in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in December 2023
Wyoming ranchers have previously said they are prepared to use any means necessary to defend their livestock if one of the wolves crosses the border
“On the bright side, if one of these wolves gets into Wyoming, they are no longer protected. “They are classified as predators and can be removed,” sheep farmer Jim Magagna said.
The pair's appearance was first noticed by Moffat County sheep farmer Jorgiea Raftopoulos, who said she found wolf tracks a mile from her ranch home near Hamilton on Feb. 16.
This was later confirmed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials, confirming that the wolves were approximately 43 miles from the Wyoming border.
The CPW has also made it clear that the agency has no plans to recapture the wolves crossing Wyoming.
Eric Odell, conservation program manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told 9NEWS, “If our released wolves go north to Wyoming, they're going to do what they do and there's no plan to recapture those wolves.”
This was later confirmed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials, confirming that the wolves were approximately 43 miles from the Wyoming border
The possibility that Wyoming ranchers might kill the two wolves in Moffat County hasn't fazed any CPW officials.
Joey Livingston, CPW public information officer, told Field & Stream that recent wolf movements are consistent with expectations in the state's reintroduction plan.
“In previous reintroductions in other states, we have seen wolves range from 20 to 140 miles from reintroduction sites.
“In our draft plan, we created boundaries 60 miles from Colorado’s northern, western and southern borders. “The goal is to reintroduce them within that 60-mile buffer zone – to make sure they stay in Colorado,” Livingston said.
Jim Magagna, a sheep rancher from Wyoming, called it “positive” that wolves “can be removed” if they cross state lines
The CPW has also made it clear that the agency has no plans to recapture the wolves crossing Wyoming
The possibility that Wyoming ranchers might kill the two wolves in Moffat County hasn't fazed any CPW officials
But the possible crossing of predators is not the first cross-border problem that states have faced.
In September, the Colorado Sun reported that at least one wolf was killed after crossing into Wyoming.
The publication cited reports from ranchers and other stakeholders, but Wyoming officials declined to confirm the death.
Rather, they claimed the information was confidential under an 11-year-old state policy aimed at concealing the identities of people who legally kill wolves in the state.
In September, the Colorado Sun reported that at least one wolf was killed after crossing into Wyoming
The reintroduction has proven to be a controversial point. Gray wolves were hunted almost to extinction in the 20th century
The reintroduction has proven to be a controversial point. Gray wolves were hunted almost to extinction in the 20th century.
In 1905, the federal government infected the animals with mange. A decade later, Congress passed a law requiring their removal from federal lands.
By 1960, the animals had been almost wiped out from their former range – under the same pretext that they posed a danger to livestock and large game.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife had already released ten endangered wolves with a GPS satellite collar into a remote forest in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in December 2023.
The agency recently released a new map showing its movement between January 23rd and February 27th.
The remaining eight are spread across the western edge of Larimer County and south into parts of Summit, Eagle and Garfield counties.