Colorado hunter shoots first video of wolf pups in the wild

Mike Usalavage wasn't sure what to think when he and son Hank were exploring backroads in Colorado with their dogs, Bear and Gracie, and came upon three wolf pups playing in a rainwater puddle in the middle of a a seldom-used, tree-lined country road.

The Colorado father and son are hunters and knew the playful interaction of the 40- to-50-pound pups was something special, given the pups are the only known ones born from the wolves Colorado released into Grand and Summit counties.

Mike Usalavage told the Coloradoan on Tuesday, Aug. 20, that the video was shot last week. He did not wish to disclose the area or county where the encounter happened due to his concern for the safety of the wolves. Colorado Parks and Wildlife posted his video on its Facebook page Aug. 19.

"We were lucky enough to get the truck shut off before they could notice us," Mike Usalavage told the Coloradoan on Tuesday. "It was a wonderful experience to watch the pups play and interact with each other. I'm not sure that's been witnessed in the wild very often, especially in Colorado. We certainly appreciate the rarity of the moment."

Mike Usalavage recorded the first known video of the wolf pups born this spring to two wolves that Grand Lake ranchers say have killed 16 of their livestock since April 2 . Colorado Parks and Wildlife doesn't publicly comment on individual wolves and what wolves are responsible for livestock depredations.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife had only publicly acknowledged knowing of one wolf pup previously but was confident there were more, which biologists verified after looking at the video. The agency said there could possibly be more than three pups. The average litter size of wolf litters is between four to six.

Mike Usalavage said he and his son are hunters and the rare glimpse into the lives of wolves also came with the realization the wolves will likely not only impact ranchers, but hunters as well.

"We're hunters and that leaves me conflicted about the reintroduction," he said. "I know that many people will be affected by the program, including me. However, it was pretty special to be able to watch such rare creatures just doing their thing in their own environment."

Mike Usalavage said they watched the playful encounter for about 7 minutes. The full video Mike Usalavage shot through the zoom on a camera is nearly 1 minute, 30 seconds. He estimated he was 100 yards from the wolves. The video clearly shows the four wolves and includes Mike Usalavage panning to his son and Bear and Gracie, which can be heard whimpering.

"It was also interesting to see how my Jack Russell terriers watched them so intently but didn't go nuts," he said. "I don't know if that was fear or respect or just curiosity. Maybe a little of each."

Mike Usalavage said it will be a day the two remember the rest of their lives.

"They're (Bear and Gracie) definitely hunters, too; squirrels and chipmunks beware," Mike said. "I guess the whole encounter was sort of a hunter meeting?"

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado hunter shoots first video of wolf pups in the wild