Colorado Pauses Gray Wolf Releases for 2026

It has been a few years since the first gray wolves were brought back to the state of Colorado. While the reintroduction of the species was approved by voters, there have been many hurdles that Colorado Parks and Wildlife, ranchers, and others have had to face.

In December 2025, a letter was sent from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, citing compliance issues with the Gray Wolf Restoration Program. The letter states that the federal agency could potentially take over restoration efforts if Colorado Parks and Wildlife does not address the compliance issues.

No Wolf Releases Planned for Winter 2025–2026

On Wednesday, January 22, Colorado Parks and Wildlife released a statement regarding the 2025-2026 gray wolf release season, stating the agency has no plans to translocate additional gray wolves to the state of Colorado this year.

READ MORE: Ranchers Suing Colorado Over Wolf Reintroduction

During this intermediate time, CPW will continue to meet with producers and other stakeholders, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to explore how to maximize the restoration effort and achieve our plan of establishing a self-sustaining gray wolf population in Colorado,

Said Colorado Parks and Wildlife Acting Director, Laura Clellan, in the press release.

Read More: CPW Could Lose Wolf Restoration Control to Federal Agency 

Rather than release more wolves into the high country, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will take the rest of 2026 to implement tactics to mitigate wolf conflicts by following the guidelines in the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Minimization Guide.

Future Wolf Translocations Still Possible

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says it will continue to explore options for translocating gray wolves into the state for the winter season of 2026-2027.  More information can be seen at cpw.state.co.us.