Wolf Pups Rescued By Alaska Firefighters: All Found Dehydrated With Porcupine Quills In Abandoned Den [Video]

Five wolf pups rescued by Alaska firefighters are on the mend after enduring a terrible plight in the wildfires covering the Kenai Peninsula. Blazes around the region are responsible for displacing — or killing — many animals, but not for a lucky litter of wolf babies.

Two-week old wolf pups shouldn’t be left to fend for themselves if mom takes off, but this instance proves it does happen when natural disasters hit and humans are nearby fighting fires.

OregonLive reports that five pups were in the den with a dead sibling; a porcupine doesn’t mix well with baby animals. Firefighters battling the blazes on Tuesday could hear a yipping in the background and would immediately learn what the commotion was all about, Steve Miller of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge said. With porcupine quills stuck on their heads and dehydration well set in,the wolf pups meet brave firefighters there to save them.

State Fish and Game officials decide that the wolf pups go to the Alaska Zoo for the quality of care they need. A veterinarian removes the porcupine quills and determines the rescued wolf pups are about two weeks old.

According to Pioneer Press, the pups will have a new home at the Minnesota Zoo. Alaska Zoo executive director, Pat Lampi, explains that the zoo in “Anchorage has worked previously with the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley.”

For the time being, the two females and two males will continue their stay at the Alaska Zoo infirmary, Fish and Game Department spokesman, Ken Marsh, says. The five wolf pups are recovering from being without food and water for several days — and getting their strength back after suffering injuries from a porcupine that found comfort in their abandoned den.

Since the litter has been together since birth, the plan is for them to remain as a group.

The Funny River Fire in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula is a massive blaze covering about 300 square miles. It’s reportedly near 50 percent contained, says the Alaska Interagency Interagency Management Team. Since the fire was human-created on May 19, the fire spans 1.9 millions acres of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Officials say no serious injuries or structural damage has been reported.

Officials say that no serious injury or structural damage has been reported.

The wolf pups rescued by heroic firefighters in the midst of battling a wildfire appear to have a great future in front of them.

[Image Courtesy of Kenai Wildlife Refuge via New York Daily News]