Birth of second wolfpack litter to Colorado's naturally migrating wolves expected soon

Colorado is expecting the birth of another litter of wolf pups any day now, creating both excitement and concern over the natural rebirth of a predator with a long, human-induced absence from the state.

The breeding pair of wolves that naturally migrated into the state last year formed the pack north of Walden in Jackson County with the birth of six pups. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said those pups were born in mid-April. The wildlife agency watched the pups for weeks before announcing their birth in early June as the first litter of wolf pups born in the state in several decades.

And soon that pack could grow, as wolves typically have pups from mid-April through mid-May. State wildlife officials said staff has not seen evidence of denning behavior and no sign of a new litter from the pack this year.

"How could it get any better, that soon we will see more pups,'' said Dale Baker, a wolf advocate from Fort Collins who volunteered to watch North Park rancher Don Gittleson's cattle herd after Gittleson lost three cows to the wolfpack. "The folks in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming had a big outcry when they brought wolves there but now that this is naturally happening here, it seems like there should be less of an outcry.''

Gittleson said the pack's adult female was observed in heat, ready to mate, Feb. 13 in a pasture on his property. Wolves generally breed in late winter and have a two-month gestation period before giving birth.

"I imagine she might have already had a new litter but don't know where,'' Gittleson said Monday. "Guess we won't know for sure until somebody sees something. I just hope they have moved their den site farther away from my property.''

Wildlife officials said they are unsure if the pack is using the same den site as last year. Gittleson said that site is a short distance from his 11,000-acre leased ranch north of Walden.

Colorado wolf reintroduction: Opposing groups agree that a delay in releasing wolves is likely

Wolves often use the same den unless disturbed by humans or other animals.

A wolf litter usually consists of four to six pups. Studies have shown pup mortality rate in the first year of life varies from 40% to 70%. State wildlife officials said all six North Park pups have survived one year later. The pups are now adult size, weighing around 90 pounds.

Major mortality causes of pups include disease, starvation, being struck by vehicles and being killed by other wolves or predators.

While the female wolf often remains in the den with her pups for several weeks after birth, other members of pack hunt for food for her and the pups.

Gittleson said the wolves have intermittently left tracks near his house since they killed his cattle in December and January but that he hasn't seen wolf tracks for a week.

He added that thanks to volunteers, mostly from the Working Circle organization, watching over his herd at night and electric fencing equipped with flags placed around a pasture by neighbors and wildlife officials, wolves have not attacked his cattle. He has since added six burros given to him by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to further help him defend his cattle from wolves.

Colorado wolf reintroduction: Likely locations where wolves will be released 

However, wildlife officials did confirm the pack injured a cow badly enough that it had to be euthanized on the State Line Ranch several miles from Gittleson's ranch on March 14. That was the last recorded wolf depredation of livestock in the state, according to wildlife officials.  

Wildlife officials also confirmed the pack killed and partially ate six elk and six pronghorn antelope in the area in mid-March.

Tracking the pack's movement will be more difficult because the GPS component of a collar placed on one of the pack's female wolf pups last month is not working, state wildlife officials said. The agency added it is unknown if the VHF component of the collar is functioning.

The female pup was capture via helicopter and fitted with the collar after the collar of the adult female of the pack quit working. The adult male of the pack is fitted with a working collar.

The agency said there are no plans to collar additional animals at this time. Because of the ruling to federally relist the gray wolf as endangered, any future collaring efforts would need to be done in close coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"I know some places up here are nervous, especially with calving season underway,'' Gittleson said. "Guess we will just see what happens.''

Taking a stand: Montana ranchers don't want wolves from state to be used for Colorado reintroduction   

Reporter Miles Blumhardt looks for stories that impact your life. Be it news, outdoors, sports — you name it, he wants to report it. Have a story idea? Contact him at milesblumhardt@coloradoan.com or on Twitter @MilesBlumhardt. Support his work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.