Colorado wolf that died in May was likely hit by a car, USFWS investigation finds

A Colorado wolf that died in May was likely hit by a car, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on Tuesday.

On June 2, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said it had received a mortality signal from the wolf's GPS collar on May 31. The animal was found deceased in northwest Colorado.

The wolf had been brought to Colorado from Canada as part of the January 2025 reintroduction , CPW confirmed to Denver7. It was the fifth wolf from the original 15 released that month that died.

Recent Denver7 wolf reintroduction coverage

Gray wolves are a federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act, so the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the cause of its death.

On Tuesday, the agency said the wolf died of blunt force trauma, likely from a car crash.

Neither CPW nor USFWS