Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has announced that two wolves, John M2101 and Jane F1084, had been seen with multiple cubs. Gray wolves and their young were first spotted by a wildlife biologist following the decision to reintroduce gray wolves to the state last year.
Those responsible made three separate observations to see what was happening from a safe distance. They saw three cubs, although the actual size of the herd is unknown, as there may be more pups that have yet to be detected. Gray wolf litters usually contain between four and six cubs, so it is highly likely that there may be more.
“We welcome this historic den and new family of wolves to Colorado,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement last week.
As the cubs grow older, they will begin to venture further away from the den.
“It’s our priority to make sure they have a chance to thrive, so while we have exciting news, we want to remind everyone that these animals remain endangered in Colorado,” explains Kris Middledorf, CPW area wildlife manager at a release.
In Colorado, killing an endangered species can lead to removal of hunting privileges, a $ 100,000 fine, and even jail time. This species of wolf was very numerous in North America, but their numbers began to decline significantly in the 19th century when they encountered settlers who viewed them as a threat. In the 1940s, the wolf population in Colorado almost disappeared.
