A video captured by Mike Usalavage and shared by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) shows three young wolf pups playing by a puddle on a path in Colorado. After consultation with CPW biologists, it has been confirmed that these wolves are from the Copper Creek pack. CPW released a total of 10 gray wolves onto public land in Grand County in December 2023 as part of the state’s wolf reintroduction program. The three pups appear healthy and weigh around 40-50 pounds. Wolves are typically born in April of each year, so these pups should be around four months old.
— Colorado Parks and Wildlife (@COParksWildlife) August 19, 2024
CPW released six female and four male wolves in December 2023 in two sessions. The wolf release was part of Proposition 114 (State Statute 33-2-105.8), which instructed the CPW Commission to reintroduce gray wolves to Colorado by December 31, 2023. The 10 wolves had been captured in Oregon. CPW had selected two adult and eight yearling wolves for the release. Yearlings are at least 20 months old and have reached sexual maturity, and can hunt on their own. The gestational period for wolf pups is 61-64 days, so these pups were conceived after the release, once new packs had formed. It is unclear which wolf is the mother of the three pups.
- Related: Update on Colorado Wolves as CPW Announces Plans to Capture and Release Additional 15 Wolves
While the video is adorable, CPW would like to remind residents that wolves are wild animals and should be treated with the same respect as any other wild animal. On its Facebook account, CPW explained, “You can see the wolf pups deeply focused on playing with each other. Playing not only allows a wolf pup to practice hunting behaviors but also teaches them how to communicate effectively with other wolves, which is a skill they will use throughout their lives as social creatures living in packs.”
CPW urges anyone who believes they have seen a wolf to complete the Wolf Sighting Form. This information will help CPW biologists monitor wolves and their movement in Colorado. It’s important to remember that if you live or recreate in the foothills or mountains of Colorado, you are in wolf country.
The following wolves were reintroduced in Colorado:
- 2302-OR: Yearling female, black color, 68 lbs., Five Points Pack
- 2303-OR: Yearling male, gray color, 76 lbs. Five Points Pack
- 2304-OR: Yearling female, gray color, 76 lbs., Noregaard Pack
- 2305-OR: Yearling male, black color, 93 lbs., Noregaard Pack
- 2307-OR: Adult male, gray color, 108 lbs., Wenaha Pack
- 2306-OR: Yearling female, gray color, 66 lbs., Noregaard Pack
- 2308-OR: Yearling female, gray color, 74 lbs., Noregaard Pack
- 2309-OR: Adult male, gray color, 104 lbs., Wenaha Pack
- 2310-OR: Yearling female, gray color, 71 lbs., Desolation
- 2312-OR: Yearling female, gray color, 76 lbs., No Pack
