Colorado wolf dies in Wyoming during USDA operation

A collared wolf that was relocated to Colorado from Canada has died in Wyoming. The wolf, identified as 2505-BC, sent a mortality alert to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) on Sunday. This happened while a federal agency was in the area working on "livestock depredation mitigation" due to several livestock deaths reported in Wyoming. The exact cause of the wolf's death is not clear. CPW did not provide further details but mentioned that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services was involved in efforts to manage predator impacts on livestock at the time. CPW spokesman Travis Duncan stated that he could not comment on whether Wildlife Services was responsible for the wolf's death and referred questions to the USDA. Gray wolves in Colorado are protected under federal law. However, they lose this protection when they move into states like Wyoming, where they are not fully protected. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department oversees the management of gray wolves outside of national parks and Indian reservations in the state. In Wyoming, gray wolves are classified differently. They are treated as a game species and regulated by hunting laws. In many areas, they can be killed at any time without a license. Wildlife Services addresses wildlife issues, including the management of wolves that harm livestock, and in 2023, the agency reported killing over 300 gray wolves in various states.