A 6-month-old gray wolf pup in Colorado will remain free over the winter, after a nearly 3-week-long effort to apprehend the animal and reunite it with its pack failed, state officials said.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials halted efforts to capture the wolf pup late Friday.
“Staff will continue to monitor trail cameras, including cellular-enabled cameras, in the area and look for evidence of the wolf pup during normal staff duties,” CPW said in a statement, which also asked hunters and the general public to report potential sightings of the animals to its Hot Sulphur Springs Area office.
State officials announced in late August they planned to capture and relocate the Copper Creek pack — two adult wolves, three male pups and one female pup — in response to pressure from ranchers in Grand County who reported repeated attacks on livestock from the wolves.
