Colorado’s reintroduced wolf pack has recently expanded with the confirmation of three wolf puppies, with at least one weighing between 30 and 40 pounds. The news followed the release of a video by Mike Usalavage on August 17, which captured the playful behavior of the wolf pups in a rain puddle and wrestling on a dirt road. The footage also showed the mother wolf, a detail later confirmed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
The video features two small dogs inside Usalavage’s vehicle reacting to the wolf pups barking and whining. Despite the commotion from the vehicle, the wolf pups remain engaged in their play, seemingly unaffected by the presence of the vehicle and its occupants.
Colorado’s Reintroduced Wolf Pack Expands with Birth of Three Pups Captured on VideoCPW shared the video on Instagram, confirming its authenticity and using the opportunity to explain the importance of the pups’ play. The agency emphasized that such activities are essential for the pups to develop hunting skills and learn effective communication, which are crucial for their social lives as pack animals.
In a follow-up video, Usalavage captured an adult wolf interacting with the pups, providing further evidence of the pack’s composition. Earlier, CPW had confirmed the birth of at least one pup in June and speculated that up to five may have been born based on collar data from the female wolf. The new video confirms the presence of additional pups.
This confirmation marks a significant milestone for Colorado’s wolf reintroduction project, initiated in December 2020 following Proposition 114. The project has faced challenges, including the loss of a yearling female to a mountain lion. The recent births are the first confirmed in Colorado since the reintroduction. CPW reminds residents in wolf habitats to treat these animals with respect and report any sightings to aid in monitoring their progress.