Wolf dies during routine research collaring in Colorado

Denver — On Jan. 28, gray wolf 2305 – the 3-year-old breeding male in the King Mountain Pack – died during routine collaring operations in Routt County in northwestern Colorado.

“All wildlife capture operations come with a risk and while we meticulously prepare and take every precaution to ensure a positive outcome, there is always the possibility, even if small, that the worst happens,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife Acting Director Laura Clellan.

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CPW performed a necropsy at its Health Lab in Fort Collins. Final results and lab tests from the necropsy are still pending and will help determine if there were any underlying conditions that contributed to the death of 2305. An independent third-party veterinary pathologist attended the necropsy and will confirm all exam results.

As gray wolves in Colorado are a federally endangered species, the standard protocol for necropsies is that they be performed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In this case, because this was not a potential law enforcement investigation, CPW received permission from USFWS to perform this necropsy to help expedite the process.