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CPW Confirms Chronic Wolf Depredation in Rio Blanco County Amid Elk Fire Evacuations


Description: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has confirmed three wolf depredation incidents in Rio Blanco County on July 20, 22, and August 2, 2025, involving an uncollared wolf. Based on the evidence, CPW has officially declared the situation as Chronic Depredation. Although the conditions typically warrant lethal removal, ongoing Elk Fire evacuations have halted operations due to safety concerns for staff and the community. CPW continues to coordinate with local producers, woolgrowers, and emergency responders, while deploying non-lethal conflict prevention measures and maintaining 24/7 range rider coverage. The agency remains focused on balancing livestock protection and public safety under these unprecedented circumstances.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Confirms Chronic Depredation in Rio Blanco County

Denver (August 5, 2025) – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has confirmed three depredation events caused by an uncollared wolf in Rio Blanco County on July 20, 22, and August 2, 2025. Of these depredations one was determined by clear and convincing evidence to have been caused by a wolf with the other two being determined by a preponderance of evidence to have been caused by a wolf. As such this situation meets CPW's definition of Chronic Depredation.

Since the first depredation event on July 20, 2025, CPW has been coordinating with producers and local woolgrowers associations to provide around the clock range rider coverage while opportunistically hazing the wolf. Range riding efforts supplemented existing non-lethal conflict minimization tools already deployed by the producer as determined by a site assessment conducted earlier this year to discourage depredation on these allotments.

Under normal circumstances this situation would warrant lethal removal operations in the area, however, the allotments where the depredations occurred are under evacuation due to the Elk Fire. As such CPW's primary concerns are the safety of staff deployed to the area and safety of the community.

CPW is continuing to monitor the situation in Rio Blanco County while coordinating with emergency services to prioritize human safety and minimize loss of livestock.

"This is a truly unprecedented set of circumstances and my thoughts are with the firefighters and the emergency responders who are working to minimize damage in Rio Blanco County, as well as the producers and CPW's staff," said Jeff Davis, director of CPW.