DENVER (KDVR) — Questions about killing or keeping a pack of wolves in Colorado sparked a special Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting on Monday afternoon.

Concerned citizens wondered if the meeting could determine the fate of the Copper Creek Pack. No decisions were made. However, during the meeting, CPW answered a number of questions. The commission also asked for clarity on the power to give calls to kill wolves.

“I have never wanted to kill an entire pack of wolves; that was never my intent,” Commissioner Murphy Robinson addressed during the meeting. 

A recent meeting of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission sparked concern and input on what to do with the wolves, particularly the pack known as the Copper Creek Pack, in Pitkin County.

“I have read over 500 comments on the wolf issue alone since the last meeting,” Commission Chair Richard Reading said. 

“The depredation event that occurred on May 24th was the third event after having clear and convincing evidence,” CPW Director Jeff Davis said. 

CPW euthanized one wolf from the pack after three livestock attacks were deemed chronic. They shared a report on this decision on the CPW website. 

“The goal was to change the behavior of the pack,” CPW’s Garrett Watson said. “We have not had depredations since the lethal removal, and I want to acknowledge it’s more nuanced than that.”

“We have heard reports of missing animals; they could just be missing, but they also could be depredation,” Davis said. “Given the topography and dense vegetation, we’re trying to keep an open mind; it could be more depredations.”

As of July 2, 2025, CPW has paid out $410,543.43 for wolf damage compensation claims.

CPW provided a breakdown of the budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 during its presentation to the Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee. Expenses through May for Personnel Services, Operating, Wolf Compensation and Conflict Minimization hit a grand total of more than $3 million.

“We don’t have to kill everything,” Commissioner Jack Murphy said, “There are ways to deal with things in a non-lethal way and the agency is having to do that I think they are doing a fantastic time, there’s still stuff to learn and we need to all relax a little bit.”

“We are trying, the hard part on any of this is it’s a learning process,” CPW’s Matt Yamashita said. “And as much as we would love to be able to deliver and give you guys a final outcome on what we need to be successful, we don’t know, we’re working on it and there’s no way to put a fast forward button on it.”

Davis ended the meeting saying that, through this process, he wants to proceed forward with livestock producers in mind. 

“There might need to be additional actions taken, both non-lethal and potentially lethal, and we gave them our commitment we are going to stand alongside of them and help,” said Davis.