A map released Wednesday, May 28, showing radio-collared wolf activity from April 22 to May 27 highlights watersheds within Archuleta County and La Plata County, indicating the presence of collared wolf activity in a small portion of the counties.
“This is the first confirmed collared wolf activity in Archuleta or La Plata counties,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Southwest Region Public Information Officer John Livingston wrote in a Wednesday email to The SUN.
The map showing radio-collared wolf activity from April 22 to May 27 highlights watersheds in the northwest portion of Archuleta County.
Livingston indicates that the map highlights watersheds and not everywhere a wolf has been, meaning even if a wolf only touches a small piece of the watershed, the entire watershed is highlighted on the map.
“We had a lone female gray wolf pass through the northern portions of both counties the week before Mother’s Day,” Livingston wrote, referring to Archuleta and La Plata counties. “But she continued to move northwest and hasn’t been in the area for a few weeks.”
He adds, “Radio collar locations have confirmed that one recently released wolf has made some broad movements in the southwest region of the state, including brief travel through parts of Archuleta and La Plata counties. The wolf is no longer present in those counties, but its movements are highlighted in the monthly collared wolf activity map that CPW released May 28.”
Livingston further explains that some large movements by translocated wolves were expected as the wolves explore their new surroundings after release.
CPW releases a monthly gray wolf activity map on its website the fourth Wednesday of every month to inform the public of wolf movements by watershed, he adds.
“Translocated wolves are currently exploring the Colorado landscape and, as wolf population numbers grow, some wolves will migrate to establish new territories,” according to Livingston. “Wolves are habitat generalists, meaning they can thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and habitats. As long as prey is available, wolves are highly adaptable. It is anticipated that wolves will expand their distribution throughout the state widely over time.”
Livingston also notes that CPW field staff are working with locals regarding the presence of wolves in their areas.
“CPW field staff are in ongoing communication with local agricultural producers, local government officials, law enforcement partners and Tribal leaders regarding the presence of wolves in their areas,” he wrote. “CPW will continue to collaborate on ways to minimize the risk of depredation. Staff continues to perform site assessments and identify ways to effectively mitigate potential conflicts.”
He adds CPW also published a Wolf-Livestock Conflict Minimization Program Guide, available at https://cpw.widencollective.com/assets/share/asset/pzqhipzb13.
The guide, he explains, “provides information on a variety of tools and methods available for livestock producers to employ in efforts to reduce the likelihood of wolf-livestock conflicts and establishes a framework for CPW’s response, along with available support from other state, federal and nongovernmental organizations.”
What if you see a wolf?
“CPW encourages anyone who believes they have seen a wolf to fill out the wolf sighting form found on our website. In addition to the wolf sighting form, members of the public can also find information on living and recreating in areas where wolves live,” Livingston wrote.
Sightings can be reported at cpw.state.co.us/wolf-sightings.
The site also includes information on how to differentiate wolves and coyotes.
Wolf reintroduction and living with wolves
Proposition 114, now Colorado Revised Statute 33-2-105.8, was approved by Colorado voters on Nov. 3, 2020, directing the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to develop a plan to introduce and manage gray wolves in Colorado west of the Continental Divide.
Reintroduction began in 2023 with 10 wolves and has continued, including with 15 wolves that were translocated from the central interior of British Columbia to Colorado earlier this year, according to CPW.
For information on living with wolves, visit https://cpw.state.co.us/living-wolves.
