Big Milestones for Tiny Pups!

Two months have flown by since Mexican gray wolf Trumpet welcomed her fifth litter of pups on Earth Day! Five of the pups were fostered to a wild wolf family in New Mexico, destined to explore and reclaim their ancestral lands in the American southwest.  

Two boys stayed behind with mom Trumpet and dad Lighthawk and they’ve been charming audiences around the world with their playful antics. They just reached a very important milestone: their 8-week checkup! 

The Pups Get a Clean Bill of Health! 

As part of the Wolf Conservation Center’s participation in the Mexican Wolf Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) Plan, captive pups are checked during certain milestones in their development. This two-month check-up is an important step to ensure the pups are strong and healthy. 

Our wonderful WCC volunteer veterinarian Dr. Jim Micinilio led the pup’s check-up. Once WCC staff wrangled the rambunctious pups, staff and volunteers recorded each pup’s heart rate and weight, administered dewormer, the first in a series of Distemper/Parvo vaccinations, and inserted microchips for future identification purposes.

While their official names have yet to be announced, the boys received their alphanumeric names; these names, which include a gender identifier and a studbook number, are used for recordkeeping purposes. m2914 is 14.5 pounds, and m2915 weighed in at 12 pounds. They were both given a clean bill of health at the end of the exam. 

What Comes Next? 

At two months old, the brothers are exploring outside the den, and you may even see some playfighting between them. They still have disproportionately large paws and heads (which are adorable!), but they will grow quickly in the next couple months. All wolves are born with blue eyes, and at this two-month mark you begin to see their eyes slowly change to golden yellow. 

You’ll be able to see the pups grow, learn, and come into their own every step of the way via our live webcams!

We extend a huge thank you to our volunteer veterinarians who show such commitment and passion to our mission by donating their invaluable time. And a huge thanks to YOU and everyone who has followed the pups’ journey. With your help, we are making meaningful strides to ensure Mexican gray wolf populations thrive for generations to come.