Just six months after a population of gray wolves was reintroduced to Colorado from Oregon, a pup has been born in Grand County. It is the first confirmed Colorado-born wolf since the reintroduction. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says this is a successful instance of gray wolf reproduction.
Since this group of wolves has now reproduced, they are officially a pack. CPW has dubbed this pack of wolves the Copper Creek Pack.
Biologists confirmed just one wolf pup in Grand County during routine wolf monitoring. There are no photos or videos of it at this time. CPW also said that there is a possibility of more than one pup born into this pack. Wolf litters typically consist of four to six pups.
State officials have been gathering evidence suggesting that a male and female wolf pair have been “denning,” which indicates reproduction. The collared female’s GPS stopped uploading data points in early April, CPW said, then began reuploading points later in the month. This means she was localized to a single position, likely a den. While being underground, the female was out of communication with any satellites. This all aligned with the “expected timing of wolf reproduction.”
Once parks and wildlife realized this, it began working to confirm there was in fact a den and whether or not there were any wolf pups within.
On June 18, the confirmation came down the pike during routine wolf monitoring efforts, which included attempted observations from the air and ground, remote cameras, and public sightings. CPW says its staff will continue to monitor the animals to determine how many pups have been born to the litter. Work will continue with landowners in the area to implement practices to minimize the potential for conflict.
“We are continuing to actively monitor this area while exercising extreme caution to avoid inadvertently disturbing the adult wolves, this pup, or other pups,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist Brenna Cassidy.
For additional information on how to stay informed about wolves in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us and sign up for our Gray Wolf Reintroduction eNews.
Wolf breeding, denning and dispersal facts
When is the breeding season?
- Wolves breed once a year during the late winter months, typically mid- to late February.
When do wolves start denning?
- Wolf gestation is about 63 days, so typically start denning in mid- to late April.
- They frequently reuse dens, with sites varying across habitats. Before the arrival of pups, dens are cleaned, remodeled, and often expanded in preparation.
- Wolves will dig their own dens, but can also expand an existing hole abandoned by a coyote, badger or other animal.
- Wolves may vacate a den if disturbed and relocate to a new site.
When are pups born? How and when will we know if there are pups?
- On average, females give birth for the first time between two and five years of age.
- After a gestation period of about two months, pups are born in the spring, which coincides with the time local ungulates give birth, enabling wolves to take advantage of easier prey.
- Pups grow quickly between five and 10 weeks, becoming more physically capable and socially interactive. In early or mid summer, pups are usually moved to an above-ground “rendezvous site,” an area pups stay with access to resources like water and shelter
- Wolves can use one or multiple rendezvous sites per year, depending on access to resources and level of disturbance.
How will we know when pups are present?
- CPW staff will diligently monitor wolf locations and behavior to determine if wolves are denning. Depending on location and terrain, it can take weeks or months to determine if wolves have denned.
What is an average number of pups?
- Females can give birth to as few as one or as many as 11 pups, with the average litter size falling between four and six pups.
- Pup survival rates vary widely by location and are difficult to study, but around half, or slightly more, of pups born often make it through their first year of life.
When do wolves disperse?
- Wolves have been known to disperse as young as nine months, but most wait until they are between one and two years old.
- While both males and females can leave their natal packs, males are more likely to disperse.
- Dispersing wolves may spend a few months to a few years by themselves before being able to form new packs with other dispersers or join an established pack.
How long do wolves live?
- While captive wolves can live more than 10 years, wild wolves usually only survive 3-4 years.
Are the wolves from Oregon old enough to breed?
- Wolves can breed at almost two years old. All wolves known to be in Colorado were capable of breeding in February 2024.