Editor’s Note: Colorado Politics is retracting previous information saying the wolves were placed in a private ranch in Pitkin County. That information is incorrect, according to a family representative, who said the ranch has hundreds of heads of cattle and doing so would endanger the animals. Colorado Politics regrets the error and apologizes to the McBride family, who owns the ranch.   

A female wolf from the group of wolves that came to Colorado from Oregon in December 2023 has been sighted this week well south of its original relocation site.

CPW confirmed Wednesday that wolf 2304-OR had been sighted in Park County. “CPW biologists had noted GPS locations from a collared gray wolf to the south of Interstate 70 on Nov. 3. The agency provided the update because it was the first time GPS data points had been observed south of I-70. This kind of wildlife activity was anticipated,” said Bridget O’Rourke, a statewide public information officer with CPW.

The wolf was seen near Guffey, in eastern Park County and east of Highway 285.

While multiple sources told Colorado Politics that Canadian wolves brought into Colorado on Sunday were released on private land in Pitkin County, the family has since told Colorado Politics the wolves are not on their property and they have no intention of allowing wolves on the ranch. The family said they have 250 cattle on their property.

The wolf management plan developed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife limits wolf relocation to state or private lands when available. Until now, no private landowners have been willing to allow wolves on their lands.

CPW has repeatedly said that one or more counties—Eagle, Pitkin, or Garfield—would be the next site for wolf relocation. But Pitkin County has no state public lands. Eagle and Garfield counties have state wildlife areas, but they are close to human population areas in Garfield County.

A second plane trip on Tuesday is believed to have offloaded animal crates at Denver International Airport. The plane is now on its way back to Prince George and potentially a third batch of wolves. Once the operation is complete, there are expected to be 15 more wolves placed in Colorado.

CPW will neither confirm nor deny the Canadian wolves are in Colorado.