Watch: Wolves released in Colorado

Colorado Parks and Wildlife released five gray wolves into the state as part of a voter-mandated reintroduction effort. The wolves (Canis lupus), taken from Oregon, were released on a remote mountainside on public land in Grand County on Dec. 18. Voters narrowly approved the reintroduction process in November 2022, although ranchers and farmer opposed the project due to fear of wolf attacks on livestock. Colorado Parks and Wildlife plans to release 30 to 50 wolves in the next five years. The canids have historically roamed the state but were extirpated by the late 1800s. The reintroduction effort follows incidents of natural wolf colonization in the state.

Read more from the Associated Press.

Watch a video documenting the monumental release below: