The eight known wolves still roaming Colorado’s mountains stayed in the state’s north-central ranges in September, a monthly tracking map released Wednesday shows.
The wolves did not enter watersheds immediately surrounding Walden and Steamboat Springs — two areas wolves previously had frequented. The wolves primarily stayed in watersheds in Jackson, Routt, Grand, Summit and Eagle counties, according to the CPW map.
A wolf entered Rocky Mountain National Park in July — the first confirmed wolf presence in the park’s history — but the wolf appeared to have left the park by September, the map shows.
The state’s known wolf population now stands at 13: seven survivors among the 10 adults reintroduced by the state in December, plus four pups from the Copper Creek pack and two adults remaining from a pack established earlier by wolves that migrated from Wyoming.
One of the reintroduced adults and the four pups, however, remain in captivity after being removed from the wild in Grand County late August and early September, following a series of livestock depredations.
Three of the 10 reintroduced wolves have died. One died in the spring, likely killed by a mountain lion. A second died Sept. 3 of what CPW officials believe are natural causes after being captured with the rest of the pack from the wild.
A third died Sept. 9, but wildlife officials have not released information about what caused the death.
CPW leaders announced Sept. 13 that the next batch of wolves to be released into the state will come from British Columbia, Canada. Biologists will begin to capture and transport the wolves in December and will continue through the winter.
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