ELY— Two new wolf pups have arrived at the International Wolf Center here, and the facility is asking the public’s help with naming its two newest ambassadors.
The public can weigh in on the names by visiting https://tinyurl.com/pupvotes and offering their preferences. Voting closes on June 6, with the announcement of selected names set for June 9.
The two pups, both males, were born on April 22 and are currently under close supervision by wolf center staff. They will be available for limited public viewing beginning on Tuesday, June 3.
“People often portray wolves for their predatory behavior and don’t appreciate the intricate pack life and social organization that keeps them together as a social unit,” according to the wolf center statement. “The center strives to maintain a socially cohesive unit of wolves that act as ambassadors of their species. The 2025 pup introduction is a significant investment in their pack’s future.”
The pups were born from a captive breeding pair and were not taken from the wild.
While interest in the pups is always high, the wolf center gives them time to grow and become accustomed to their new surroundings before exposing them to the public or to the rest of the pack. They are expected to be part of the daily programming at the center beginning June 3. Each pup viewing will be 15 minutes long and is included in the price of admission. The viewings will take place outdoors and so will be weather dependent. They’ll be held roughly hourly, beginning at 9:45 a.m. and continuing through 3:45 p.m.
You can watch a live stream of the pups at the center’s website at wolf.org. If you don’t see the pups right away, check back later.
The pups can join the rest of the center’s pack at about three months of age, although that can vary depending on pack dynamics. The center currently expects to have the pups join the pack at about three months of age, when they reach approximately 30 pounds, expected by sometime in August.
The International Wolf Center uses science-based education to teach and inspire the world about wolves, their ecology, and the wolf-human relationship, and the ambassador wolf pack at the Ely center is part of that mission. By watching the exhibit pack, visitors see a glimpse of their individual traits as well as the social nature of the species that makes them successful as a top-level predator.
Advance tickets are available for purchase
To purchase admission tickets, click the Book Now button on the lower left-hand side of the home page at wolf.org. Wolf Center members receive free admission.