Colorado Wolf 2516 Dies in Utah, Cause Unknown
Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed the death of a tracked female gray wolf that had traveled roughly 9,000 miles over 18 months.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Wildlife
Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed the death of female gray wolf 2516 in Utah after receiving a mortality alert on November 7, 2026. The cause of death remains unknown, and no further details are available at this time.
Why it matters
The wolf's death removes a collared animal that had been tracked across Colorado and neighboring states since her release, cutting short data on the movements of reintroduced wolves. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Utah agencies are investigating the circumstances of the death.
Wolf 2516 was tracked by collar over 18 months and covered about 9,000 miles on her own across Colorado and into neighboring states. Her cause of death has not been identified, and investigators have not released further details.
The players
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife, including the state's gray wolf reintroduction program.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the federal agency that oversees endangered species protections, including gray wolves, and is investigating the death.
The details
Female gray wolf 2516 was brought to Colorado from British Columbia in January 2025. Her collar tracked her movements until Colorado Parks and Wildlife received a mortality alert on November 7, 2026, and confirmed her death in Utah in a November 13 press release.
Timeline
January 2025: Wolf 2516 was brought to Colorado from British Columbia.
November 7, 2026: Colorado Parks and Wildlife received a mortality alert for wolf 2516.
November 13, 2026: Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed the death in Utah in a press release.
Seasonal Patterns
Colorado's gray wolf reintroduction program, approved by voters in 2020, has relied on collared animals to track dispersal across state lines. The death of wolf 2516 in Utah shows how far reintroduced wolves can range beyond the state's management area.
Residents who see a wolf or other wildlife in the field should report it to Colorado Parks and Wildlife rather than approach or feed the animal. Anyone with information about the death can contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or Utah wildlife officials.
The takeaway
Tracking data from collared wolves shows how far individual animals can travel, which helps wildlife managers plan reintroduction efforts. Follow Colorado Parks and Wildlife announcements for updates on the investigation.
Further reading
Explore more on Wildlife to see how Colorado's wolves and other animals are managed.
