A female gray wolf relocated from Canada as part of Colorado’s reintroduction effort has died. Officials are investigating the cause as questions swirl around the state’s controversial wolf program.
Another Loss for Colorado’s Reintroduced Pack
Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed on May 15 that a female gray wolf, identified as 25-12-BC, has died in the northwest region of the state. This is not the first death among the relocated wolves, but it adds to growing tensions around the program.
The exact location of the incident hasn’t been released. State and federal agencies have remained tight-lipped, citing the ongoing investigation.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will perform a necropsy in the coming days. The species is protected under the Endangered Species Act, so every death triggers a federal review.
A Look Back at the British Columbia Wolves
The wolf wasn’t born in Colorado. She came from British Columbia, part of a carefully selected group reintroduced to the state in late 2023.
That group made headlines when they arrived. Tagged and tracked, each animal carried hopes of reviving the once-extinct local wolf population.
Now, one of them is gone.
She was one of ten gray wolves released near Grand County last December—a moment that marked the first wolf reintroduction to Colorado in nearly 80 years.
Two of those wolves have since died. This one is the second.
Cause of Death Still a Mystery
Officials haven’t revealed much. And for now, nobody’s ruling anything out—natural causes, poaching, or even predator conflict.
Federal wildlife experts will examine the body for trauma, disease, and toxins. That process could take weeks.
“We need to wait for the necropsy before drawing conclusions,” said a spokesperson for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They confirmed their agents are working with state authorities to get answers.
The silence around the location and circumstances is fueling public speculation.
The Debate That Won’t Die: Wolves and Rural Colorado
The death isn’t just a wildlife story—it’s a political flashpoint. Since the beginning, the wolf reintroduction program has divided the state.
Ranchers in northwest Colorado say wolves pose a serious threat to livestock. Conservationists argue the animals are essential for ecological balance. And politicians? Well, they’re stuck in the middle.
The Colorado Farm Bureau issued a brief statement Friday evening: “Every wolf death underscores the need for transparency and cooperation. We hope for a full investigation.”
Meanwhile, environmental groups like the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project called the loss “deeply sad” but urged people not to jump to conclusions.
You can almost feel the tension crackling beneath the surface.
What We Know About Wolf 25-12-BC
She was fitted with a GPS collar, just like the others, allowing officials to track her movements.
• Female
• Born in British Columbia
• Estimated age: 2 years
• Part of December 2023 release
• Last GPS signal registered May 14
Colorado Parks and Wildlife had previously said the wolves were adapting well. Some even formed packs. But adaptation in the wild is never guaranteed—and neither is survival.
“She was doing what wolves do—roaming, hunting, learning,” said one CPW official off record. “It’s hard not to take these losses personally.”
Could This Change the Program?
Not immediately, no. But it might slow things down.
Colorado voters narrowly approved wolf reintroduction in 2020—by less than 2%. Since then, CPW has walked a fine line between public opinion, scientific guidance, and federal rules.
A second phase of reintroduction is expected in late 2025 or early 2026. This death could increase calls to pause or adjust the strategy.
But here’s the thing—wildlife programs always come with risk. Animals die. That’s part of the equation. What makes this case different is the emotion around wolves specifically. They’re not just predators. They’re symbols.
Symbols of wilderness. Symbols of fear. And, maybe, symbols of a political divide that runs deeper than we like to admit.
