Colorado wildlife officials will let a lone wolf pup fend for itself after failing to capture it with its parents and four siblings, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced Friday afternoon.
“With declining temperatures, CPW has made the decision to conclude the capture portion of this operation for the safety of the wolf pup,” the agency said in a news release.
The 6-month-old pup should be able to hunt small animals like rabbits and squirrels, according to the release.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife leaders decided in August to round up the Copper Creek pack after a series of livestock killings near its den site outside Kremmling. Over two weeks, biologists trapped and relocated the two parents and four pups to a secure facility. The adult male wolf died after capture, though agency leaders have said it appears the wolf died of wounds from before it was captured.
Wildlife officials believed they had captured all of the wolf pups but on Sept. 20 learned of a fifth pup that remained wild.
Biologists for 19 days attempted to capture the remaining pup but on Thursday decided to stop trying due to declining temperatures, according to the news release.
The two adult wolves were released in December as part of the state’s historic and controversial wolf reintroduction program and the pups were the first born in Colorado from the reintroduction program.
CPW staff will continue to watch trail cameras for signs of the pup. The agency also asks that anyone who sees the wolf pup report the sighting to the Hot Sulphur Springs Area office at 970-725-6200.
