1,000 mile journey brings Yellowstone wolf to Colorado

EAGLE COUNTY - It's been a long and lonely winter trek for a female wolf that separated from her pack in Yellowstone National Park five months ago.

The Colorado Department of Wildlife says a global position satellite collar, worn by the wolf, has helped them track her epic five-state journey, which has apparently brought her to Colorado in search of a mate. It says the wolf's last known location in Eagle County, is about 450 miles from its origin. The DOW estimates, however, that she may have walked an estimated total of 1,000 miles.

The 18-month-old female separated from her pack just north of the Yellowstone National Park boundary in September and traveled across five states, including Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah.

It's not unusual for wolves to travel as far as 60 miles of their pack, but biologist have documented approximately 10 wolves since 1992 that have traveled more than 190 miles.

"Young wolves often cover remarkable distances looking for a mate and new territory," Colorado Department of Wildlife Director Tom Remington explained.

"If this wolf doesn't find a pack, she'll likely keep moving," he added.

The last confirmed wolf in Colorado also came from Yellowstone. The young female was killed by a vehicle on Interstate 70 near Idaho Springs in June 2004.

The gray wolf is protected under the Endangered Species Act. While Colorado's wolf policy allows for wolves to move freely throughout the state as long as they don't come in conflict with people or livestock, federal law prohibits killing or harassing the animals without federal approval.

Wildlife experts say, despite protections, none of the wolves that have wandered long-distances from their packs have formed packs or bred and lone wolves have lower survival rates.