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Baby wolves are adorable creatures that are born weighing a single pound! They are some of nature’s cutest canines. However, they grow up to be one of the most dangerous apex predators in their habitats. But did you know that their deep blue eyes eventually change color as they get older? Or that they cannot hear or see when they are born?
Keep reading to learn seven fantastic facts about wolf pups and see some adorable pictures of baby wolves.
#1: Baby Wolves Are Born With Deep Blue Eyes
Wolf puppies are born with beautiful, light to dark blue eyes. But did you know that their eyes don’t keep this color? Wolf pups inherit their eye color from their parents. As puppies age, their eyes darken and eventually turn golden yellow, amber, orange or even green! Some wolf pups can even develop light gray eyes, which can be mistaken for blue eyes from a distance.
The eyes of wolf puppies should change to their adult color by the time they are between six and eight weeks old.
#2: The first gray wolf pups were recently sighted in Colorado for the first time in 80 years!
In 2021, a pack of gray wolves was spotted in Colorado for the first time in 80 years by a biologist and wildlife manager. Before that, there were no gray wolves in the area as humans poisoned and hunted the animals in the 1940s.
Colorado decided to introduce two adult wolves, named “John” and “Jane,” to the area. A few months later they were spotted with three cute wolf babies!
#3: Baby wolves are deaf and blind at birth
When baby wolves are born, their eyes are closed and their eyes and ears are not fully developed. Because of this, these tiny canines are completely unable to see or hear as newborns. After a few days, wolf pups can open their eyes, but they still rely on their mothers and their sense of smell to navigate the world around them.
Baby wolves eventually grow up with excellent hearing. Some wolves can even hear sounds from up to ten kilometers away. Those are some good ears!
#4: Baby Wolves Are Seriously Tiny!
Mother wolves only carry wolf babies for about two months before they are born. They can have between four and six wolf pups in a litter. When these babies are born, they weigh just one pound.
Even though they are born small, wolf puppies quickly put on the pounds. Male wolf pups gain an average of 3.3 pounds per week. Females gain about 2.6 pounds in the same time. Depending on what kind of wolf are they?, these cute babies can grow up to 175 pounds fully grown.
#5: Only a few females in a Wolfpack have babies
Even though there are many females in the typical wolf pack, only the alpha male and alpha female wolves mate to have babies. Wolves do this to breed the strongest babies that have the best chance of survival despite predators and the harsh environment in which they live. This is also a great way for wolves to minimize the number of puppies in the wolf pack at one time. This is because having too many babies can put the rest of the pack at risk.
Every member of the pack plays a part in caring for these wolf babies. Other female wolves help look after wolf pups and the males work to protect them from threats.
#6: Wolf puppies only stay with their mother for two years
It may sound a bit crazy for a two year old to move away from his mother, but for wolf puppies this is completely normal! Once a baby wolf turns 2, he separates from the pack he was born into and travels away alone. Some baby wolves join other packs, but others stay on their own – these are called lone wolves.
#7: Wolf Pups are only born in winter
Because wolves have only one reproductive cycle per year, wolf pups are born only once a year, usually sometime between January and March. Baby wolves are born in a den and their mothers give birth to them without any help from the other wolves in the pack.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are baby wolves called?
Wolf babies are called pups. A pack of baby wolves born at the same time from the same mother is called a litter.
How much do baby wolves weigh?
Baby wolves usually weigh about a pound when they are born, but male wolf pups gain about 3.3 pounds a week and females about 2.6 pounds until they are fully grown.
What do wolf puppies eat?
Baby wolves survive the first six weeks of their lives solely on their mother’s milk. In fact, when they’re born, baby wolves can’t chew at all — their tiny mouths can only suckle. Then they travel with adult wolves that hunt for food fo
r them.
How Long Do Mother Wolves Carry Wolf Babies?
Female wolves carry baby wolves about two months before they are born.
Where do wolf puppies live?
Wolf pups live in North America, Mexico, Japan, and Western Europe.
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