The
Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) is reminding residents to quickly
report any potential wolf sightings. Though a majority of the sightings are
coyotes, dogs, or other animals, a recent report in north-central
Colorado's North Park area appears to have some merit.
On Feb. 16, district wildlife managers with the DOW were able to capture
brief video of a suspected wolf. The DOW was able to observe the animal
because a landowner quickly reported seeing it about 10 miles south of the
Colorado-Wyoming border north of the community of Walden. Biologists and
wolf specialists who have examined the video say the animal seen on tape
looks and behaves like a wolf.
"There's really no way to be absolutely sure just by looking at an animal,
and even genetic testing isn’t 100% reliable” said Gary Skiba, Senior
Wildlife Conservation Biologist and DOW coordinator for the state's Wolf
Management Working Group.
The animal on the video tape had no visible tags or collars. Such
indicators could more easily link the animal to federal efforts to
reintroduce the northern gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park. Many
offspring wolves lack any markings, but so do wolf-dog hybrids that could
also be in the wild.
Reports from southern Wyoming indicate that this same animal was spotted
approximately eight miles north of the border several days before and after
the North Park video was filmed. It is possible that the animal is
searching to establish territory or looking for a mate along the
Colorado-Wyoming border. |