Good news folks, I mean wolves, from Colorado! Two wolves have been spotted with multiple pups!

Image credit: YellowstoneNPS

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) have announced that they have spotted two wolves, named John M2101 and Jane F1084, with multiple pups! The gray wolves and their offspring were first sighted by a wildlife biologist and CPW district wildlife manager, IFLScience reports.

The new litter is the result of a decision to reintroduce gray wolves to Colorado made just last year. The gray wolves and their babies were first sighted by a wildlife biologist and CPW district wildlife manager. Then, from a safe distance, CPW staff conducted three separate observations to see what’s really happening within the den.

Image credit: Tambako the Jaguar

The images – not yet published to keep the family safe – show the presence of two collared wolves, John and Jane, together with three pups. However, the true size of the pack remains to be assessed – there may be much more that haven’t been spotted. Gray wolf litters usually contain around four to six pups so let’s keep our fingers crossed.

“Colorado is now home to our first wolf litter since the 1940s,” Governor Jared Polis said in a statement. “We welcome this historic den and the new wolf family to Colorado. With voter passage last year of the initiative to require re-introduction 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.”

Despite viewing the litter from a considerable distance, CPW staff have seen a lot of movement among Jack, Jill, and their pups. As the little ones are getting older, they will venture further away from the den – a chance for the onsite biologists who otherwise work with CPW staff to try and minimize the likelihood of human-wolf contact, and eventually, conflict.

Image credit: Tambako the Jaguar

“It’s incredible that these two adult animals have traveled the distance and overcome the challenges they have to get here, and to now have pups in Colorado,” Kris Middledorf, CPW wildlife manager said in a statement. “It’s our priority to ensure that they have the chance to thrive, so even as we have exciting news, we want to remind everyone that these animals remain endangered in Colorado.”

In Colorado, that status is actually backed up by law. There, it’s prohibited to harass wildlife – any wildlife. Killing an endangered species can even end you up in jail.

Now, that’s an example to follow, ain’t it?