The wolf is mainly a carnivore and feeds on large wild hooved mammals as well as smaller animals, livestock, carrion, and garbage. Wolves are also territorial, and fights over territory are among the principal causes of mortality. Offspring may leave to form their own packs on the onset of sexual maturity and in response to competition for food within the pack. It travels in nuclear families consisting of a mated pair accompanied by their offspring. Of all members of the genus Canis, the wolf is most specialized for cooperative game hunting as demonstrated by its physical adaptations to tackling large prey, its more social nature, and its highly advanced expressive behaviour, including individual or group howling. The wolf's fur is usually mottled white, brown, gray, and black, although subspecies in the arctic region may be nearly all white. The wolf is nonetheless related closely enough to smaller Canis species, such as the coyote and the golden jackal, to produce fertile hybrids with them. The wolf is the largest extant member of the family Canidae, and is further distinguished from other Canis species by its less pointed ears and muzzle, as well as a shorter torso and a longer tail. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus have been recognized, including the dog and dingo, though gray wolves, as popularly understood, only comprise naturally-occurring wild subspecies. The wolf ( Canis lupus PL: wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. Taking or killing one is punishable by a fine of $100,000, jail time and/or loss of hunting license.Global wolf range based on IUCN's 2018 assessment. “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,” said Libbie Miller, Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist.Įven though gray wolves have been taken off the federal endangered species list, they’re still protected by the state of Colorado. Officials will continue to monitor “John,” “Jane” and the pups. Part of the initiative provides compensation for loss of livestock due to the predator. The reintroduction has faced opposition from some ranchers concerned about their livestock, according to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The pups don’t stay small for long and grow up to become the largest living wild canine species. It's the first pack to call the state home in nearly 100 yearsīut not everyone is celebrating. From Colorado Parks and WildlifeĪ group of wolves were spotted in Colorado. “With voter passage last year of the initiative to require re-introduction of the wolf by the end of 2023, these pups will have plenty of potential mates when they grow up to start their own families.”Ĭolorado Parks and Wildlife officers discovered a trail of wolf tracks on January 19. “We welcome this historic den and the new wolf family to Colorado,” Polis said Wednesday. Jared Polis emphasized the importance of the initiative to help the gray wolf population in the state. The measure requires the state to restore and manage gray wolves in the state by the end of 2023.Ĭolorado Gov. The gray wolves were eradicated by hunting and poisoning in the 1940s, but a ballot initiative to reintroduce the wolves onto the Western Slope of Colorado passed late last year. Fast-forward a few months, Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff saw “John” and “Jane” with three pups in Jackson County, about 150 miles northwest of Denver. Officials began tracking two adult wolves named “John” and “Jane” earlier this year. Spotting cute pups is worth celebrating any day, but in Colorado it’s historic.įor the first time since the 1940s, a litter of gray wolves has been seen in Colorado.
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