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,

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.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) captured 15 gray wolves in Canada and has released them in Eagle and Pitkin counties as the state continues to move forward with the voter-mandated reintroduction effort,

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.