2025 proved a rough year for wolf restoration efforts in the state of Colorado and reintroduction of new wolves is essentially on hold in 2026. Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced last week that there are currently no plans for translocating additional gray wolves this release season and the soonest options will be explored is next winter. CPW Acting Director Laura Clellan shared during the announcement that they have had to invest in a significant wolf-livestock conflict minimization program and the focus will be on improving this program to protect both livestock and wolves. In 2025, CPW had to hire a Wolf Damage and Conflict Minimization Manager to oversee compensation for wolf damage as well as the Colorado Range Riding program. They also expanded tools to minimize conflict, including the addition of an electrified flag-line fencing that can be used to deter wolves as well as over 160 sound-and-light scare devices. While 2025 saw higher than average loss of gray wolves, four of the packs had female gray wolves that gave birth to average litters of four to six pups.
