A litter of gray wolves has been spotted in Colorado for the first time in almost 80 years.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials said members of their team have spotted three pups near Steamboat Springs, marking the first time since the early 1940s that the animal has been found in the state. Two older wolves, believed to be the parents, have also been seen.
“Colorado is now home to our first wolf litter since the 1940s. We welcome this historic den and the new wolf family to Colorado,” Governor Jarred Polis said in a statement. “With voter passage last year of the initiative to require reintroduction of the wolf by the end of 2023, these pups will have plenty of potential mates when they grow up to start their own families.”
Although just three pups have been spotted on three occasions, wildlife officials believe there could be more. Gray wolves typically have litters of four to six pups.
“We are continuing to actively monitor this den site while exercising extreme caution so as not to inadvertently jeopardize the potential survival of these pups,” said Libbie Miller, a CPW biologist. “Our hope is that we will eventually have photos to document this momentous occasion in Colorado’s incredible and diverse wildlife history. But not bothering them remains a paramount concern.”
Miller said staff have observed the pups only at dusk and dawn and are doing so from a distance of two miles. Despite the distance, officials have the proper equipment to…
