Colorado Confirms New Gray Wolf Pups in the Wild

The wolf population in Colorado is growing. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has confirmed sightings of new gray wolf pups in the mountains of Colorado through direct operations, trail cams, and public sighting reports.

Why New Wolf Pups Matter in Colorado

The sightings of the new wolf pups are said to significantly bolster the population of gray wolves in the state of Colorado, and the pups show that the reintroduction of the species is working.

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Officials of the program with Colorado Parks and Wildlife have been preparing for the new additions to the packs and have contracted and trained eleven new range riders for the summer season in Colorado.

READ MORE: Reintroduction of Wolves in Colorado Cost Taxpayers How Much?

Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff have completed over 196 site assessments to assist ranchers with being proactive to secure their livestock in the areas where wolves are present. Some of the methods used to deter wolves from encroaching on livestock include turbo fladrys, range riders, night watchers, and dozens of guard dogs.

Funding Coexistence: License Plates & Non-Lethal Tools

These measures are mainly funded by Colorado's Born to be Wild license plate purchases, which has raised over $819,000 for non-lethal coexistence between humans, livestock, and wolves.

READ MORE: Tensions Rise as Gray Wolf Is Killed in Colorado Ranching Area

According to 9 News, there is no total on the number of new gray wolf pups as of yet, and where the dens are located. The wolf pups will continue to den while they grow before moving to rendezvous sites away from their current dens and then venturing out into varied habitats.

This is positive news for the gray wolf population, as there have been numerous deaths within Colorado's relocated population in the past few months. One of the wolves that died had to be euthanized by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials while in the act of killing livestock.