Colorado Officials Confirm Gray Wolf Died From Capture Complications During Research Operation

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has confirmed that gray wolf 2305 died from capture-related complications during a collaring operation on public lands on January 28th, 2026. A necropsy conducted the following day, attended by an independent third-party veterinary pathologist, determined the cause of death as acute cardiogenic shock, potentially worsened by hyperthermia, exertional or capture myopathy, respiratory distress, or a drug reaction.

“Our staff and contractors carefully followed CPW Animal Care and Use Committee guidelines during this operation, and by all accounts the capture process was not abnormal nor suggestive of this level of stress response from the animal.” – CPW Director Laura Clellan

The operation involved the concurrent capture of wolf 2305, the King Mountain Pack’s breeding female, and a pup. The entire pursuit and securing of 2305 lasted approximately 24 minutes, with the chase itself taking roughly three minutes. Capture crews reported no visible signs of distress during the process.

Upon delivery to CPW’s handling crew, 2305’s temperature measured 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit, significantly higher than the breeding female’s 101.4 degrees. Staff immediately began cooling measures, but neither a pulse nor respirations were detected. Emergency resuscitation efforts, including CPR and cardiac drugs administered by CPW’s wildlife veterinarian, proved unsuccessful.

Clellan noted that investigators have been unable to pinpoint a definitive explanation for why the male wolf suffered such a severe stress response while the female experienced no complications. The breeding female and pup, both successfully collared, remain together and are being actively monitored.

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