Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center

Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center Conservation. Education. Preservation. Provide natural habitats and exceptional lives for the animals entrusted to our care since they cannot live in the wild.
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It is the Mission of the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center to:

Educate the public through tours and programs about the importance of Wolves, Coyotes, and Foxes to our eco-system. Educate the public about the importance of Preservation and Conservation of the forests, land, and water that supports wildlife, flora, and fauna for future generations to enjoy.

From Colorado Parks and WildlifeOn June 12, 2026, CPW and its agents lethally removed an uncollared wolf in Routt County...
06/14/2026

From Colorado Parks and Wildlife

On June 12, 2026, CPW and its agents lethally removed an uncollared wolf in Routt County. Visual evidence obtained at the scene confirmed the removed wolf is the same one that was depredating in Rio Blanco County in 2025 and early 2026. This wolf was originally a member of Copper Creek Pack but has not been a part of that pack since Sept. 2024.

Since summer of 2025, this uncollared wolf had been involved in ten different confirmed depredation events involving 22 sheep. The latest of these were two confirmed depredation events in Routt County on June 10 and 11. Each of these events involved one sheep that were confirmed with clear and convincing evidence to have been depredated by a wolf. These events occurred despite the producer pursuing substantial non-lethal conflict minimization efforts.

“The decision to pursue lethal actions is never an easy one but the circumstances around this wolf’s repeated depredation history made this a difficult but necessary decision,” said CPW Director Laura Clellan. “The producers impacted by these depredations have worked diligently with CPW to identify and deploy all viable and reasonable non-lethal tools and techniques identified through their site assessment and consultation with our field staff.”

“While the unanimously adopted Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan calls for 10-15 more wolves to be translocated to Colorado, it also calls for lethal control of chronically depredating wolves,” said Governor Jared Polis. “This elusive wolf had a number of chances but sadly chose to continue to depredate which necessitated this challenging management decision. Colorado remains committed to recovering and maintaining a viable, self-sustaining wolf population in Colorado, while concurrently working to minimize wolf-related conflicts with domestic animals, with non-lethal means as our priority.”

Conflict minimization efforts pursued by producers impacted by the uncollared wolf included:
Conducting of a site assessment to identify viable, reasonable, and effective tools and techniques for their operations
Deployment of range riders
Use of livestock guardian dogs and scare devices
Active human presence from herders
Applying for injurious non-lethal hazing permits
A final report on the lethal removal efforts will be posted to the CPW website when complete.

CPW’s decision to lethally remove the uncollared wolf was made in consultation with USFWS and in accordance with applicable legal requirements, including the USFWS 10(j) rule.

06/13/2026

Good morning! Willow and Zoe got to meet barrier-free! We’re so happy to see Zoe so full of happiness and excitement after the loss of Zak earlier this year.

Goodnight from Zarah!
06/13/2026

Goodnight from Zarah!

06/12/2026

from Team Wolf

from

A wolf mother was shot dead after CPW denied a rancher’s request to kill wolves.
A Colorado ranch hand shot and killed the breeding female of the King Mountain Pack in March. The rancher has now publicly disclosed the shooting-and the investigation is still ongoing.
This pack was one of just four in Colorado known to have produced pups in 2025. Its breeding male had already died earlier this year after a CPW collaring operation. Now four young wolves have been left without either parent.
The ranch claims roughly $180,000 in losses. But only three calf deaths were confirmed as wolf depredations-and those confirmed losses were compensated.
Wolves are not a blank check for every missing calf
Ranchers grazing cattle on public land do not get to shoot first, blame wolves later, and then try to overrule the voters who brought wolves home.
Public lands are not private kill zones.

Arizona Senate Bill 1280 is headed to Governor Katie Hobbs’ desk.If signed into law, SB 1280 would prohibit Mexican gray...
06/11/2026

Arizona Senate Bill 1280 is headed to Governor Katie Hobbs’ desk.
If signed into law, SB 1280 would prohibit Mexican gray wolf pups from being transported into Arizona and prevent public resources from supporting these efforts.
Why does this matter? Pup fostering is currently the primary method used to release endangered Mexican wolves into the wild in the United States. Young pups born in captivity are placed into wild dens, helping boost genetic diversity and strengthen recovery efforts for one of North America’s most endangered mammals.
Blocking pup fostering in Arizona could have serious consequences for the future of Mexican wolf recovery.
Wildlife management decisions should be guided by science, conservation expertise, and the best available evidence—not misinformation or political rhetoric.
📢 Arizona residents: Please contact Governor Katie Hobbs today and urge her to VETO SB 1280.
The future of Mexican wolves depends on informed, science-based conservation.

Link to comment form:

https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/form/voice-an-opinion?fbclid=IwdGRleASXHShleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEes6Dzt9WPg6B3KZ-lgla9sJeiHUtV_aOotjlYs8KjHqa84rCep716Msgdnuw_aem_OW-t3ASkB2LuhepWsj6frA

06/11/2026

Whisper, one of our two silver Fox kits, engaging in some play with our staff.

One of the most persistent wolf myths claims that the wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone were some giant, invasive “supe...
06/10/2026

One of the most persistent wolf myths claims that the wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone were some giant, invasive “super wolf” from Canada. The science tells a very different story.

Yellowstone wolves are indeed big—averaging around 92 pounds, with males often about 10-15 pounds heavier than females. But size differences between wolf populations aren’t the result of a mysterious super-sized subspecies. They’re the result of ecology.

Think of it this way: wolves are built for the job their environment gives them.

In places like Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies, wolves regularly hunt elk and sometimes even bison. Larger bodies can be an advantage when taking down such formidable prey. In parts of Minnesota, where wolves primarily hunt white-tailed deer, a smaller body size is often more efficient and requires fewer calories to maintain.

Scientists also point to factors like climate, habitat, and genetics. Some Great Lakes wolves carry a small amount of historical coyote ancestry, while Rocky Mountain wolves generally do not. All of these influences can affect body size over time.

So no, Yellowstone and the West isn’t home to “Canadian super wolves.” It’s home to gray wolves doing what wolves have always done: adapting to their environment.

Good morning! This week’s Wolf Talk is now on YouTube! You can find it in the link below. Today we discuss Prop 302.http...
06/10/2026

Good morning! This week’s Wolf Talk is now on YouTube! You can find it in the link below. Today we discuss Prop 302.

https://youtube.com/?si=SRSO3MnPH2ls8D05

🚨 WILDLIFE DESERVES BETTER — VOTE NO ON PROP 302 🚨
❌ Unnecessary: Hunting and fishing are already protected in Colorado law.
❌ Gives special privileges to hunters and anglers over the majority of Coloradans who enjoy wildlife in other ways.
❌ Creates a protected class based on recreation choice, sidelining non-hunters.
❌ Opens the door for lawsuits that could undermine Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s ability to manage wildlife.
❌ Could threaten voter-approved bans on cruel practices like steel-jaw traps and snares.
❌ Conflicts with the principle that wildlife belongs to ALL Coloradans.

Wildlife belongs to everyone, not just a select few. Vote NO on Prop 302.

Thanks to decades of collaboration between wildlife professionals, zoos, conservation organizations, ranchers, and local...
06/09/2026

Thanks to decades of collaboration between wildlife professionals, zoos, conservation organizations, ranchers, and local communities, a population that once dwindled to just seven wolves has grown to at least 319 Mexican wolves were living in the wild in Arizona and New Mexico, marking the 10th consecutive year of population growth. There are about 350 additional wolves living across various facilities as well.

Now, the SAFE Mexican Wolf Program is expanding its focus beyond breeding and reintroduction to support community-based conservation, helping people and wolves successfully share the landscape through education, collaboration, and coexistence.

At the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, we're proud to care for Mexican wolves that are part of the SAFE program and to support the recovery of this incredible species. Their comeback shows what is possible when conservation, science, and communities work together.

🐺 Every wolf recovered is proof that extinction is not inevitable when people choose conservation.

Good morning from Orenda! Happy Tongue Out Tuesday!
06/09/2026

Good morning from Orenda! Happy Tongue Out Tuesday!

Address

4729 Lower Twin Rocks Road
Florissant, CO
80814

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

(719) 687-9742

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