CPW collars wolves as part of ongoing research

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) have two more wolves to monitor in North Park, Colorado. Last week, GPS collars were affixed to two male wolves – no. 2301 and no. 2101 – as part of ongoing research studies that encompass elk and moose in the area, according to a press release. 

“Both animals were caught together in an area of North Park where we have been receiving reports from the public in the past couple of weeks,” said Eric Odell, CPW Species Conservation Program Manager. 

Odell worked with CPW Wildlife Research Scientist Ellen Brandell and CPW Wildlife Veterinarian Pauline Nol. 

Wolf 2101 had been collared two years before; however his “collar had failed and we could see it was damaged. Wolves are rough on collars and that’s to be expected that in time collars will fail,” said Odell. 

“Refitting 2101 and having a second GPS collar will allow our biologists and wildlife managers to continue learning about the behavior of these wolves,” said CPW Acting Director Heather Disney Dugan.

Wolf 2301 was assumed to be one of six pups born to female wolf 1084 and male wolf 2101 in 2021.

The team used a CPW-contracted company to dart the animals with tranquilizers from the safety of a helicopter. A health exam was conducted at the same time the GPS collars were attached. Both animals were healthy.

While collars are useful, they only provide biologists with a “snapshot” of the wolves’ activities. Other tools like wolf prints and scat collected during field investigations are used to confirm the presence of wolves in an area.