Colorado wildlife officials released 15 wolves from Canada into the central mountains over the last week as part of the second wave of the state’s historic, voter-mandated reintroduction of the native predator.

The wolves were darted and immobilized in Oregon by expert marksmen and biologists working from a helicopter. They were netted and then brought onto small planes and eventually transported to vehicles,

It’s extremely quiet. Only the slight shifting of boots in the snow, rustling of jackets and the occasional plane humming overhead breaks through the silence. The night is cold, still and dark. The moon

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials announced the release of 15 wolves into northern parts of the state, concluding their second year of wolf restoration efforts.

Fifteen wolves from British Columbia were released from Jan. 12 to Jan. 16. CPW also rereleased five members of the Copper Creek pack that they captured last year.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed the release of 15 new wolves from British Columbia in Colorado. Officials said the department completed a capture and release Saturday for the second Gray Wolf reintroduction season as part of the Colorado Gray Wolf Restoration and Management Plan.

The releases were done separately, the agency said in a press release Sunday, and all wolves were released into Eagle and Pitkin counties. The agency noted that this is the second of between three to five wolf release seasons.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) completed capture and release work for the second gray wolf reintroduction season on Saturday. Fifteen wolves were translocated from British Columbia to Colorado.