Think you’ve seen a wolf in Colorado? Here’s what to do

As wolves are released on Colorado’s Western Slope most of the outreach from Colorado Parks and Wildlife has been to livestock producers. That’s changing.

Wolves haven’t yet been released in Eagle County, but some released wolves’ radio collars have pinged in the Eagle River Valley watershed. And wolves can wander across a vast amount of territory.

A group of wildlife officers Monday gathered at Gypsum Town Hall to talk about wolves’ potential impacts to residents and recreationists. The room was empty save for one reporter, but the officers gave their presentation anyway.

Matt Yamashita, an area wildlife manager, noted that wolves’ interaction with livestock isn’t the only way the big canines and humans come in contact.

Meetings like the one Monday in Gypsum are ways to understand how those interactions can work.

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As you’d expect, there was a good bit of wolf-specific information in the presentation. Adult wolves are similar in size to adult mountain lions. They have longer legs and shorter tails than coyotes, and unlike domestic dogs, which tend to run in a ziz-zag, wolves run in a straight line. Wolves also have really big paws. An adult man’s hand is about the same size as an adult wolf’s paw print.

Wildlife officer Devin Duval noted that every wolf’s howl is unique. Those howls can be heard as far away as 5 miles. If you do hear a howl, Duval said, the best idea is to leave the area.

But if you’re used to living with bears, mountain lions or moose, you already know a lot about living in wolf country.

Wildlife officer Layton Stutzman noted there have been only two wolf-caused human deaths in North America in the past century, and neither of those was in the lower 48 states. You’re much more likely to have your day ruined by a moose, he noted.

But keeping all those animals wild, particularly bears, mountain lions and wolves, requires people to ensure that the animals maintain their natural diets. That means keeping trash secure, and keeping bird feeders secure, dog food inside and trash in animal-resistant containers.

Keeping your pets on a leash is important, especially on trails.

Duval noted that a wolf will see a dog as another wolf, and a competitor. Open sheds can draw other wildlife — some of which are prey animals that will in turn attract predators, Duval noted.

Stutzman said while in the backcountry, it’s important to keep a safe distance from wolves and other predators and leave room for escape.

If a wolf is displaying aggressive behavior, it’s important to stay face-to-face with the animal and act aggressively. Using air horns or bear spray can help deter a wolf or other animal from becoming more aggressive.

Climbing a tree won’t help get away from a mountain lion or bear, but it can help get away from a wolf.

One of the most important things humans can do, though, is to kind of act like wolves and behave as a group.

“If you’re doing everything you can but your neighbors aren’t,” that isn’t helping keep wildlife out of a neighborhood, wildlife officer Brian Woodrich said.