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First wolf pack in Grand Teton Park produces litter of 5 pups MOOSE, Wyo. (AP) - The first wolves to den in Grand Teton National Park in 50 years have produced a litter of five pups. Grand Teton's wolf task force information officer, Bill Swift, called it "an exciting and historic moment" and "another milestone in the Yellowstone wolf reintroduction program." The pups were seen romping outside the den with one of the adults Wednesday. The pups appear healthy, but the public is urged to avoid the wolves because human activity could drive the mating pair away, biologists said. Park officials would not reveal the exact location of the den in the northeast part of the park. The young wolves are estimated to be five weeks old. The parents had migrated from Yellowstone and roamed Grand Teton all winter, officials said. The mating pair was identified as wolves 24 and 133, and were reported to be denning April 27. Success is still a long way off, said Swift. Denning wolves are highly territorial and will defend their homes to the death, he said. Last week, six wolves from the Soda Butte Pack from southern Yellowstone were near the den site but did not approach. If they had, he said, a fight most likely would have followed. Mike Jiminez, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wolf recovery coordinator for Wyoming, said the Soda Butte Pack is still roaming, meaning those wolves probably will not den this year. Wolves normally den in mid-to-late April, he said. Another group of wolves - two females and one male - has apparently denned on the Bridger-Teton National Forest north of the National Elk Refuge. Biologists use radio-tracking collars to monitor the wolves' movement. Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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