A male wolf sighting in December may confirm RMNP as wolf habitat once again.

By John Cordsen of the Estes Park Trail Gazette

Officials are calling “credible,” a report of a wolf-like animal seen in Rocky Mountain National Park.

A large, black canid was sighted by two experienced Park volunteers in Moraine Park on Dec. 4. The animal reportedly came out of the forest surrounding Moraine Park and at one point was within 200 feet of the couple — close enough that they could distinguish the long lanky legs, pointed ears and blunt face of a wolf. They were also able to determine that the animal was a large male after it urinated on undergrowth in the area.

“This is a credible sighting,” said Park biologist Jeff Conner. “We can’t confirm that it was a wolf, or a wolf hybrid though.”

The couple took Park scientists to the sighting area on Dec. 5 where they found tracks of a large canid  that were about 4.5 inches wide and five inches long.

“They were definitely not a coyote and we could rule out a vast majority of domestic dogs,” he said. “We are confident this was not someone’s dog running loose.”

Park officials have enlisted the aide of researchers with the Denver Zoo to track the animal.

“They are putting out remote cameras and we hope to capture the animal on film,” said Conner.

Officials are also following up on a couple of elk kills in the Moraine Park area. Conner said one was a confirmed mountain lion kill. The second though was unknown. Conner said there was evidence coyotes had been feeding on the carcass but that it was difficult to tell what killed the elk.

The sighting has Park officials eager to talk to anyone who may have seen the animal, or who may see it in the future. Sightings may be reported by calling the Park at 586-1206.

“We will be following up on any reports we receive,” said Conner.

                                           Two male wolves in Denali National Park, Alaska

The December sighting of the animal is the second time evidence of a large canid has been reported to Park authorities. This past summer, an experienced tracker and dog handler, reported finding large tracks in the Beaver Meadows area.

“Based on the experience of the person reporting the find, this was another credible report,” said Conner.

Officials hope to find some evidence they can break down in order to determine whether the animal is a wolf or a wolf hybrid.

“A photo, a hair sample, or scat, something that we could send in for DNA analysis would give us the evidence we need to determine what this animal is,” said Conner.

This is not the first time a dark canid has been spotted in northern Colorado. On Feb. 16, 2006, district wildlife managers with the Division of Wildlife (DOW) were able to capture brief video of a suspected wolf. The DOW was able to observe the animal because a landowner quickly reported seeing it about 10 miles south of the Colorado-Wyoming border north of the community of Walden. Biologists and wolf specialists who examined the video say the animal seen on tape looks and behaves like a wolf.

A female wolf was killed along I-70 in June 2004 after it was struck by a vehicle. The animal wore a collar and scientists say it traveled more than 600 miles from Montana to where it was killed near Idaho Springs on I-70.

Conner said there have also been reported sightings of possible wolves in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area and near the trailhead on Hwy.  36 between Estes Park and Lyons.

The return of wolves to the national park was one of the options debated prior to the release of the Park’s Elk and Vegetation Management Plan, which was announced Dec. 11. If wolves do return to the state, they will be managed under Colorado guidelines.