A video of three wolf pups playing in a puddle on a dirt road was confirmed as the first offspring of Colorado’s wolf reintroduction effort, state wildlife officials said Monday.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife leaders shared a video of the pups playing in a post on X. The agency did not disclose when or where the video was taken but said wolf biologists reviewed it and confirmed the three pups were part of the Copper Creek pack.
Seen here: three healthy wolf pups (around 40-50 lbs) and one adult from the Copper Creek pack. We received this video and our wolf biologists have reviewed and confirmed the validity of the video.
Video courtesy of Mike Usalavage pic.twitter.com/vVnSdaIZ9m
— Colorado Parks and Wildlife (@COParksWildlife) August 19, 2024
CPW staff first spotted a wolf pup in Grand County in June, confirming signs that indicated one of the collared females was denning in early April.
The three wolves caught on video are between 40 and 50 pounds, according to CPW.
“Playing not only allows a wolf pup to practice hunting behaviors but also teaches them how to communicate effectively with other wolves, which is a skill they will use throughout their lives as social creatures living in packs,” CPW officials wrote on X.
People who see a wolf can report the sighting to Colorado Parks and Wildlife online, which helps biologists track the wolves.
