Colorado Parks & Wildlife confirms three more wolf pups in Colorado

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — Colorado is one of the fastest growing states in the country. That includes its wolf population.

In a press release for the governor’s office on June 9, Governor Jared Polis and officials with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirmed the state has its first litter of wolves since the 1940s.

“These pups will have plenty of potential mates when they grow up to start their own families,” Polis said, referencing Proposition 114, the voter-approved initiative that requires the reintroduction of gray wolves to Colorado by the end of 2023.

Multiple CPW employees individually confirmed spotting at least three pups between June 4 and June 8. The pups are the offspring of collared wolves M2101 and F1084, better known as John and Jane.

Less than a month later, on July 8, CPW officials said that three more wolf pups have been spotted, making for a total of six wolf pups. "We are observing from a long distance so that the pack has the best chance for survival," CPW said in a tweet.

It was only in late May that CPW confirmed Jane was actually female. Since 2019, the agency believed she was a male wolf. Now, they’ve also confirmed she’s a mother.

Jane entered Colorado from Wyoming, where she was part of the “Snake River” pack. John was first spotted with Jane in early 2021, CPW said.

CPW has not shared photos of the wolf family.

“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 wildlife biologist with CPW. “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.”

Kris Middledorf, an area wildlife manager for CPW, said “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.”

Wolves are an endangered species in Colorado; killing a gray wolf is punishable with a $100,000 fine, jail time, and a loss of hunting privileges, according to CPW. Harassing animals is also illegal.

According to CPW, wolves were eradicated from Colorado about 80 years ago.

Proposition 114 was one of the most divisive ballot measures for Coloradans in 2020. It passed by less than two points. Many of those opposed cited the possible impact wolf reintroduction would have on livestock and hunting industries, while those in favor often saw the proposition as a way to preserve biodiversity and combat the species' extinction.