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CPW outlines wolf restoration progress and coexistence steps after Copper Creek operation
Summary
Colorado Parks and Wildlife told the committee the Copper Creek pack capture and relocation was operationally complex, that CPW is increasing coexistence resources and that future sourcing from British Columbia aims to avoid animals with chronic livestock interactions.
Jeff Davis, director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), and Deputy Director Reid DeWalt briefed the committee on Sept. 18 about the agency’s recent Copper Creek pack operations and ongoing wolf restoration.
Davis said the Copper Creek operation balanced pup survival and livestock‑conflict reduction: “we have 9 breeding aged animals” currently collared or monitored and emphasized that as packs form the agency can better predict movements and deploy coexistence tools. Reid DeWalt confirmed CPW lost an adult male recently and said a necropsy is underway to determine cause of death.
CPW explained steps taken to reduce future depredation: expanding range‑rider capacity, increasing proactive site vulnerability assessments, streamlining permits for coexistence tools and coordinating with USDA Wildlife Services, the Department of Agriculture and NGOs. On sourcing, DeWalt said CPW’s agreement with British Columbia aims to obtain animals from remote populations with limited cattle interactions; “we're really trying to thread that needle of finding wolves that have not had those interactions,” he said.
Committee concerns and CPW responses: Members pressed whether the mother from the Copper Creek pair would be classified as a chronic depredator; Davis acknowledged a high likelihood she was involved in some livestock depredations but described this as a unique, one‑time decision tied to pup survival and cautioned against treating the case as precedent. On legal questions, CPW reported coordination with the attorney general, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Justice on NEPA and 10(j) issues for sourcing outside the U.S.
Operational decisions and governance: Davis told the committee CPW holds the most complete situational facts and the technical authority to make adaptive management choices, though he said the agency will keep the governor’s office informed and consult with county officials and producers ahead of future releases.
Next steps: CPW said it will continue after‑action reviews, work with the Wolf ad hoc group on lessons learned and expand coexistence capacity in areas vulnerable to depredations.
