Repeated attacks on livestock in Colorado are being attributed to the reintroduction of wolves.
Wildlife officials in Colorado are working on a restoration plan while relocating wolves.
The Copper Creek wolf pack in Colorado will have several animals relocated after repeated attacks on livestock.
Officials said on Monday that an adult female and four pups were taken to a "secure location for evaluation and monitoring" by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). The pack's adult male was captured but died in captivity due to injuries unrelated to its capture. If the wolf had survived, it would have been kept in captivity.
"The male adult wolf in Middle Park was responsible for multiple depredations this spring, according to CPW Director Jeff Davis. Removing the male at that time, when he was the only source of food for the female and pups, could have resulted in their deaths and contradicted the restoration mandate."
Officials stated that the four pups were not responsible for the killings of cattle and sheep in Grant County because they are still reliant on adults for sustenance and are unable to hunt anything larger than a rabbit or squirrel.
The state compensates owners of killed calves up to $15,000 for the animal's market value.
The officials decided not to kill the pack as it would have hindered the ongoing restoration effort.
The capture of the Copper Creek pack represents an early setback in the effort to reintroduce wolves to a state where they were previously eradicated through poisoning, trapping, and hunting.
"We are still in the early stages of the restoration plan. Our legal obligation to Colorado voters is to continue working towards a sustainable population. We must also continue our efforts to minimize losses to our producers and ensure the health, safety, and well-being of the wolves as we work towards a viable gray wolf population," Davis stated.
We will apply the lessons learned and continue to build a strong program with our federal and state partners, while increasing cooperation between the wolf restoration advocacy and ranching communities. By listening to understand one another, we will all benefit in the long run. Our current focus is on releasing the remaining members of the Copper Creek pack.
Officials said that the release of the remainder of the pack will be decided after the pups become large enough to hunt on their own.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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