DIVIDE, Colo. — One of the people who helped lay the foundation for the plan that reintroduced wolves into Colorado is concerned about the future of the program after the state agency responsible for the apex predator issued a fine of roughly $140 to a hunter who mistakenly killed a wolf.
Wolf 2504, a female, was reintroduced to Colorado from Canada. On Aug. 10, officials with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced that the wolf was shot and killed by a hunter who thought the animal was a coyote near the start of the year.
Gray wolves are a protected endangered species on both the state and federal levels.
The licensed hunter was cited for violating CPW regulations, resulting in a $139.50 fine and 5 suspension points. The agency decided not to pursue further charges.
In a statement provided to Denver7, a CPW spokesperson said some key factors in their decision included the hunter immediately reporting the incident, their full cooperation with the agency during the investigation, and the "genuine remorse" they showed.
However, those working at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center in Divide believe the agency should have pursued harsher penalties.
"This was a huge, devastating blow for a wolf population. It's not just because the incident happened; it's because of the way that it was handled," said Kelly Murphy, the assistant director at the center. "It sets a terrible precedent... If you get off with a slap on the wrist and you get a fine of $139.50, what does that tell everybody else in our state that doesn't want wolves here?”
- Read the full Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan
The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center cares for a number of wolves and other animals on their property in Southern Colorado, where Darlene Kobobel found her calling.
“When I was a little girl, my biggest fear in the world was a wolf," Kobobel said. “As I grew up and educated myself, I started learning that they are amazing animals.”
Kobobel was a member of CPW's Wolf Stakeholder Advisory Group, which made recommendations for the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan after voters approved the apex predator's reintroduction in 2020. Gray wolves were officially reintroduced to the state in 2023.
“At the time, we had no wolves here in Colorado. So that was my main mission of, maybe someday, with all this education, we could bring wolves back," Kobobel explained. "I was very excited at the beginning, honestly. And now I'm concerned.”
Gray wolves were officially reintroduced to the state in 2023.
"We're trying to bring back an endangered species, and we've already lost over half of them right now," Kobobel said about the struggles of the wolf population since reintroduction.
Watch Denver7's full interview with Kelly Murphy and Darlene Kobobel below:
Kobobel and Murphy introduced Denver7 to a number of the wolves at the center, which ranged from adult wolves to six-month-old pups. They also have coyotes on the property.
"Even our smallest and daintiest wolf still is very easy to distinguish from a coyote," Murphy said. "Wolves have sort of smaller, rounded-off ears, and coyotes have very tall and pointed ears, sort of like a fox.”
In addition to differences in size and stature, Murphy said the wolves at the center were currently in their summer coats. When wolf 2504 was killed, Murphy said she would have had a winter coat, which would have made her appear even larger.
"It just really makes you scratch your head on how that accident even occurred to begin with," said Murphy.
The two also provided Denver7 with a snapshot of comments they said they found on a social media post about wolf 2504, one of which said, "Take notes, folks. Remember 'I thought it was a coyote, officer.' Bank that one."
“This is exactly what we expected and why we were so fearful when there were so minimal penalties that were being brought down on this person," Murphy said.
“Everybody makes mistakes, but you have to pay the consequences for it," Kobobel added. "This is unacceptable, and public trust too is going to be diminished and is already because of this.”
Denver7 brought these concerns to CPW, which sent over a statement that said, in part, that their decision not to pursue harsher penalties "was determined by the circumstances of the incident, and the ethical choice made by the hunter."
In addition, the statement said CPW is evaluating ways to "further protect wolves" by helping hunters clearly differentiate between wolves and coyotes. Such methods may include educational materials like signage, brochures, and notices.
Read the full statement from CPW below:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) would like to thank all of the members of the Stakeholder Advisory Group and those who continue to engage with the agency’s wolf restoration efforts.
CPW is committed to the long term success of efforts to establish a self-sustaining wolf population and takes unlawful killing of wildlife very seriously.
Every situation involving the unlawful killing of wildlife — including the shooting of gray wolf 2504 — is different, with its own set of circumstances that need to be carefully considered. CPW thoroughly investigated this incident for potential criminal activity, and made a determination of potential charges based on the nuance and details of this very unfortunate situation.
Some key factors were the individual making the choice to immediately report the incident and take responsibility, their full cooperation with the agency throughout the investigation and genuine remorse for the incident. Through this investigation CPW officers determined that the shooting of gray wolf 2504 was an accident as the animal was mistaken for a coyote. In a scenario where there is a blatant and intentional disregard for the law, penalties could have been much harsher as gray wolves are a state and federal endangered species.
Ultimately the agency’s decision to not pursue greater penalties was determined by the circumstances of the incident, and the ethical choice made by the hunter. Fines for violations are set in statute.
CPW has the utmost confidence in our officers to enforce and uphold protections for wildlife in our state as well as their ability to evaluate a person’s intent and behavior, and discern the appropriate course of action.
Again, the shooting of gray wolf 2504 is an incredibly unfortunate situation and required careful consideration of how best to handle it. CPW is evaluating opportunities to further protect wolves and provide information to help hunters clearly tell the difference between wolves and coyotes, including educational materials such as signage, brochures and notices.
CPW is committed to restoring gray wolves in accordance with state law and looks forward to continued engagement and partnership with representatives of stakeholder groups in Colorado.
Denver7 has been following Colorado's wolf reintroduction program since the very beginning, and you can explore all of that reporting in the timeline below, which starts with our most recent story.
Denver7 in-depth wolf coverage
The below list outlines an overview of the known wolf population in Colorado:
- Four wolves surviving from the original 10 that were released in December 2023 (one died of a likely mountain lion attack, a second died from injuries sustained prior to his capture as part of the Copper Creek Pack relocation effort, a third wolf became sickly and died, a fourth died in Wyoming, a fifth died during a re-collaring operation in February 2026, and a sixth died in northwest Colorado the following month)
- Three wolves surviving of the five wolf pups born in the spring of 2024 (one male was killed by CPW after multiple depredations in Pitkin County and a second male was shot for the same reasons in September 2025, which it survived, and again in June, when it was killed)
- Eight wolves surviving from the 15 that were released in January 2025 (one was shot and killed by Wildlife Services in Wyoming, a second died of unknown causes in Wyoming, a third died in Rocky Mountain National Park, a fourth died in northwest Colorado, the fifth died in northwest Colorado after it was likely hit by a car, a sixth died in southwestern Colorado, and a seventh died in northwest Colorado)
- At least 14 pups born in four packs in 2025: Two in the Copper Creek Pack, four in the King Mountain Pack, five in the One Ear Pack and three in the Three Creeks Pack
- One of the pups born into the One Ear Pack was lethally removed by CPW on Aug. 4, 2026 after multiple depredations on calves in Jackson and Grand counties
- Two wolves that moved south from Wyoming several years ago have been collared and are now members of the One Ear Pack