Colorado’s Wolves Expand Westward as New Map Tracks Their Movements

A new map from Colorado Parks and Wildlife shows wolves wandering farther west toward the Utah border during September, although most of their activity remains centered in the state’s mountainous regions.

The data, collected between August 26 and September 23, reflects shifting patterns in wolf behavior as Colorado continues its voter-mandated reintroduction program.

phys.org

1. Recent westward movement: Wolves returned to areas near the Utah border in September after retreating earlier in the summer.
2. Presence near Grand Junction: At least one wolf was detected in watersheds north and west of Grand Junction, according to the new map.
3. Mapping timeframe: The map covers wolf locations recorded between August 26 and September 23.
4. Consistent range: Despite occasional shifts, much of the wolves’ territory has remained stable along the central spine of the Rocky Mountains.
5. Geographic spread north: Wolves were tracked as far north as the Wyoming border, north of Craig.
6. Geographic spread south: The southernmost presence reached Wolf Creek Pass, near South Fork.
7. Eastern limits: The farthest east movement recorded was around Winter Park and Berthoud Pass.
8. Wolf population: Twenty-one collared wolves currently roam Colorado’s landscapes.
9. New pups: At least 10 wolf pups were born this summer within the state’s four packs.
10. Future releases: Colorado Parks and Wildlife plans to release up to 15 more wolves this winter as part of the ongoing reintroduction program, which started in late 2023 with wolves captured outside the state.