Coloradans are likely to be intrigued by an ongoing investigation in Wisconsin regarding the killing of a wolf. The incident involved a teenage hunter who reportedly shot the wolf as it charged towards a group of young hunters.
According to a report by Wisconsin Public Radio, the killing occurred on September 21st. Numerous readers from OutThere Colorado have subsequently contacted us, expressing concerns about the possibility of similar incidents happening in the Centennial State.
The incident in Wisconsin took place on public land in Oneida County, located approximately 175 miles north of Madison. A trio of teenage hunters, one of whom was just 13 years old, found themselves in a duck blind when they spotted a wolf making its way towards them. In an effort to deter the wolf, the teenagers tried creating loud noises, but despite their attempts, the wolf persisted in getting closer to their location.
When the 13-year-old noticed another wolf lurking behind their group, approximately five yards away, the 19-year-old swiftly took action. He retrieved his gun and skillfully shot the animal in the face, effectively ending the threat. Following the incident, he promptly informed wildlife authorities about the encounter. Witnesses corroborated the account, mentioning that the teenagers were encircled by five wolves, while four more were present in the vicinity.
Many Coloradans may have concerns about these cases in Wisconsin. Colorado Parks and Wildlife maintains the opinion that wolf attacks on humans in Colorado are highly unlikely. Wolves typically avoid human presence altogether.
When comparing the wolf populations of Wisconsin and Colorado, it is important to note the significant differences between the two states. Wisconsin is home to approximately 1,000 wolves, whereas Colorado only has 14 wolves, with five of them currently residing in an enclosed space.
Furthermore, Colorado is much larger in size, spanning 104,185 square miles compared to Wisconsin’s 65,498 square miles. Despite this, both states have similar populations of around 5.9 million residents.
It is also worth mentioning that Wisconsin has a higher level of development compared to Colorado, which still maintains large areas of rugged and remote wilderness. Based on these factors, it can be concluded that Coloradans are far less likely to encounter a wolf while exploring the wildlands compared to their counterparts in Wisconsin.
Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program has set a target population of around 50 wolves for the initial five years. Once the population reaches 200, the state protections will no longer be in effect. Therefore, it is expected to take a considerable amount of time for the wolf population in Colorado to reach even 1,000, if it ever does.
Although the likelihood of wolves posing a threat to the average outdoor enthusiast is extremely low, concerns regarding livestock depredation persist, particularly among large ranches in the vicinity of the state’s wolf population. Since the reintroduction of wolves in December 2023, there have been 17 confirmed cases of livestock depredation, involving a total of 27 livestock.
Source: Newsbreak
