Are Colorado’s reintroduced wolves having pups? Signs point to yes

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife is tracking what biologists believe is a wolf den in Colorado, although they have not seen the pups yet or the actual den itself.

However, officials also believe this is the only den active this year, according to statements made during a Thursday Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting. CPW is tracking the reintroduced wolves through GPS collars, and one of the female wolf’s movements has been “typical for a denning female.”

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“So there’s no other reason she would be doing what she’s doing,” said Reid DeWalt, CPW’s assistant director for aquatic, terrestrial and natural resources. “We will continue to monitor this den and any associated rendezvous site, and since wolves breed once per year and have pups in April, this will be the only den for 2024.”

He explained that a rendezvous area is similar to den sites — sites with access to water, cover and no intruders, but without “that central hole” of the natal den site. These sites are common when pups reach 8 weeks old, and wolves can have more than one rendezvous area each summer.

CPW biologists believe the pups would be about 8-9 weeks old right now, so they would weigh about 15 pounds each. Gray wolves typically have 4-6 pups in a litter.

New gray wolf rules passed in Colorado

That was not the only news from CPW concerning the wolves. The commission, in a 6-4 vote, passed several rules surrounding gray wolves, including:

• Ranchers can be reimbursed if wolves kill a bison

• Pooled grazers can be compensated as well

• Allowing the use of artificial light, night vision goggles and other thermal imaging equipment to “haze and potentially kill” the gray wolves caught preying on livestock

Currently, the state is aware of 11 gray wolves in the state. Ten were reintroduced, but one was killed by a mountain lion in Larimer County in April. The manner of death was confirmed in the commission meeting.

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