Secretive gray wolf pups spotted in Colorado! Discover 3 new arrivals

Wildlife officials in Colorado have announced the presence of three new gray wolf packs as part of the state’s efforts to rebuild wolf populations in the region. They also shared footage of three wolf pups captured on a trail camera. The announcement was made by Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Thursday, July 17, revealing the presence of the King Mountain Pack in Routt County, the One Ear Pack in Jackson County, and the Three Creeks Pack in Rio Blanco County.

The department recognizes wolf packs once a breeding pair has given birth to pups. While staff members have observed pups at multiple dens, the total number of pups is still being confirmed. It can be challenging to count the pups during late spring or early summer due to their small size and tendency to stay in habitats with dense cover or underground.

The formation of successful wolf packs is crucial to the state’s wolf restoration plan, as it helps in bolstering the wolf population and developing pack territories. More wolves are set to be relocated to Colorado during the winter of 2025 to 2026, and consultations with stakeholders in the planned release zone are being scheduled.

Despite the reintroduction of gray wolves to Colorado in 2023 and 2025, there have been concerns about potential conflicts with livestock and people. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission recently awarded two ranchers nearly $200,000 in wolf depredation compensation claims. Efforts to minimize conflicts between wildlife and livestock, such as deploying range riders to monitor and protect animals in open range areas, have been implemented by the department.

Since January 2025, there have been five wolf deaths reported, with two in Wyoming and three in Colorado. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will investigate the cause of death for these protected species under the Endangered Species Act. Despite these challenges, officials remain committed to the wolf restoration program.

“The relocation of gray wolves has been successful,” stated Odell. “While there have been some wolf deaths this year, we should not halt the translocation efforts.” Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced plans to hire a Wolf Damage and Conflict Minimization Manager to assist in achieving the program’s main objectives and ensure smooth coordination with other agencies. This article, by Saleen Martin of USA TODAY’s NOW team, originally appeared on USA TODAY and provides information about the presence of three new wolf packs in Colorado. For more details, contact Saleen Martin at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

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