DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) biologists announced Sunday that they have observed GPS locations of a collared gray wolf south of Interstate 70 for the first time.

CPW said the move was expected as reintroduced animals that need food, large wilderness areas and space away from humans are exploring the state.

As their population grows, they will establish new territories and spread widely, thriving in a variety of habitats with available prey, the agency said in a news release.

“Wolves are habitat generalists, meaning they do not have specific habitat requirements that determine where they can live,” CPW spokesman Travis Duncan told Denver7 in July. “Wolves can use a variety of areas as long as prey is available.”

one in june Camera on Vail Pass detected one of the wolves reintroduced near I-70 in Colorado advocated by groups for wildlife crossing.

Dr. D., Colorado field conservation director for the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. According to Stefan Ekernas, the I-70 Mountain Corridor is known to be a barrier to wildlife; because it “divides the landscapes in two”.

CPW said wolves may reintroduce south of the interstate in the future.

of colorado first wolf plan A second reentry site was included after the first year of the program. One of those locations is south of I-70, east of Gunnison, along the Highway 50 corridor between Monarch Pass and Montrose.

wildlife officials Announced in September It said it had reached an agreement with the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Management in Canada. Between December 2024 and March 2025, up to 15 wolves from the Canadian province will be captured and transported to Colorado.

About 8,500 wolves live in the state, but that number varies from year to year. British Columbia website.

Some aspects of this upcoming reintroduction will remain the same as last year, When CPW captured wolves from Oregon To move to Colorado:

• Wolves will be tested and treated for any diseases at the source site (Wolves with major injuries do not meet reintroduction requirements).
• GPS collars will be placed on wolves
• Wolves will be transported to Colorado in sturdy crates by plane and/or truck
• Wolves will be released in Colorado as soon as possible to minimize stress

CPW encourages anyone who believes they have seen a wolf to fill out the wolf sighting form on the site. agency website. In addition to the form, the public can also access information about life and recreation in areas where wolves live.

Wolf spotted on Vail Pass camera near I-70: What does this mean, according to one expert?