Worried about wolves in Colorado? Attacks on humans are rare, but here are safety tips

There is real concern among Colorado ranchers regarding wolves attacking and killing their livestock, but recreationists should be relieved to know wolf attacks on humans are nearly nonexistent in the U.S.

The same cannot be said for wolves attacking dogs.

Colorado’s North Park wolfpack has killed nearly 20 livestock since the pack’s parents naturally migrated into the state and produced the state’s first litter of pups in 80 years in 2021.

With Colorado set to reintroduce wolves as early as this month on the West Slope, Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently added the predator to its “Living with Wildlife” educational brochure series.

When it comes to wildlife attacks on humans, Colorado’s reintroduced wolves pose far less risk to human safety than other existing wildlife, such as black bears, mountains lions and even moose, data shows.

What wildlife in Colorado pose the biggest risk to human safety?

Wildlife attacks on humans are rare to extremely rare. Fatal encounters are significantly rarer.

Here is a look at wildlife attacks on humans by the most common species, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife:

• Black bear: Estimated population 17,000 to 20,000. Since 1990, there have been 88 attacks on humans, three of which were fatal. The last fatal attack was in 2021.
• Mountain lion: Estimated population 3,000 to 7,000. Since 1990, there have been 28 attacks on humans, three of which were fatal. The last fatal attack was in 1999 when a lion was believed to have killed Jaryd Atadero in the Upper Poudre Canyon.
• Moose: Estimated population 3,000. Since 2006, there have been 21 attacks on humans, with one fatal attack in 2006. Seventeen of those attacks have occurred since 2020. Since 2013, 18 of 20 moose encounters with humans resulting in injuries have been associated with dogs.

Note: Coyotes are known to attack people, but the state wildlife agency does not keep track of those encounters. None of those attacks have been fatal.

This is how rare a wolf attack on a human is in the U.S.

There are an estimated 14,000 to 18,000 wolves in the U.S., including Alaska, which accounts for more than half of that population.

Since 1900, there have been no reported fatal human attacks by wolves in the lower 48 states. During that time, one fatal attack occurred in Alaska. That attack happened in 2010.

Since 2002, there has been one nonfatal wolf attack of a human in the lower 48 states. That attack was in Minnesota in 2013.

A study published in 2002 reviewed wolf-human interactions in Alaska and Canada, where more than 60,000 wolves live. The study found in the period from 1900 to 2000, there were 16 cases in which wild, healthy wolves bit people.

Bites were severe in six cases, but no bites were life-threatening. Another 12 cases involved wolves suspected to be rabid.

You can see social media videos of visitors in Yellowstone National Park getting too close to bison and being chased or even gored by the 1,000- to 2,000-pound animals.

Yet despite approximately 4 million visitors to the national park annually, there has not been a reported wolf attack of a visitor since wolves were reintroduced in 1995. There are approximately 100 wolves in the park.

Colorado’s wolves have killed four ranch dogs

Of the 18 livestock confirmed killed by the North Park wolfpack in Colorado since late 2021, three have been working cattle dogs. Another was a rancher’s pet dog.

Those dogs were all killed near ranchers’ houses.

The state wildlife agency only compensates for working cattle dogs, not pet dogs.

The highest amount paid for any livestock was $15,000 for a working border collie that was killed March 13. That’s the highest amount allowed under the state’s wolf management plan.

Why wolves kill domestic dogs

Wolves attacking and killing dogs is infrequent but given the wrong circumstances attacks do happen.

Like dogs, wolves are canids and as such will guard their territory.

Most dogs killed by wolves are hunting dogs in pursuit of bears and mountain lions. It is legal to use dogs to pursue mountain lions in Colorado but not bears.

Unleashed dogs while out hiking with their owners also are vulnerable, especially if the dogs are near a wolf den site or wolf meeting site.

Safety measures to take for you and your dog in Colorado’s wolf country

Colorado is planning on reintroducing 30 to 50 wolves into the West Slope over the next three to five years, the first of which are expected to arrive as early as this month.

Those wolves are expected to wander widely.

This means an increase in chances of encounters between wolves and ranchers and recreationists in the coming years.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides these tips:

General safety tips

• Make lots of noise if you come and go when wolves are most active — dusk to dawn.
• Dogs should be leashed or under strict voice control while recreating.
• Bear spray can be effective in warding off an attack.
• Keep dogs close to your home during the day and bring them inside at night.
• Keep livestock in enclosed sheds or barns at night when available.
• Don’t intentionally or unintentionally feed wolves. Securely store garbage and remove dead livestock from the area.

In the extremely rare case that you encounter a wolf:

• Keep visual contact with the animal.
• Keep your dog away from the wolf.
• Face the wolf but slowly move away (don’t run or bend down) to seek shelter.
• If it approaches you, make yourself look larger by raising your hands, make loud noises and wave an object such as a hiking stick in front of you.
• If attacked, fight back, using your fingers or sharp objects on the wolf’s most sensitive areas, including underbelly, face and eyes.