Necropsy report shows likely cause of death for wolf found dead in Larimer County

A wolf found dead in Larimer County was likely killed in a mountain lion attack, federal officials said on Tuesday.

State wildlife officials had released the wolf, which was reported dead in mid-April, into Colorado as part of the voter-approved re-introduction effort. 

Joe Szuszwalak, a spokesperson for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said trauma was listed as the cause of death in the necropsy report.

“Although not definitive, the puncture wounds in the skull are consistent with those typically inflicted by a mountain lion,” he wrote in an email.

There have been at least three other reports of mountain lions depredating wolves in Oregon and Washington in recent years, he said. 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife released 10 gray wolves on Colorado’s Western Slope in December and January as part of the state’s voter-approved re-introduction efforts.

Since their release, the wolves have spread out throughout the region. Using tracking collars, CPW has provided monthly maps showing the wolves’ general locations.

Wolves have killed several calves on the Western Slope since re-introduction began, causing tensions between state wildlife officials and ranchers.