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Grey Wolf
Canis lupus or Timberwolf
Description - Generally the wolf is a grizzled grey but color varies
from white to black. The ears are erect and the tail is bushy and black tipped.
The male is larger than the female and average weight is 55-130 pounds.
Distribution:
The wolf originally was the world's most widely distributed mammal, living
throughout the northern hemisphere north of 15° N latitude. Present
distributions are much restricted wolves occur primarily in wilderness and
remote areas (Harrington and Paquet 1982).
Solid
black areas=current distribution; speckled areas=former distribution (now
extirpated)
Biology - The wolf is a very social animal that mates for life and lives
in packs of 2-15. The strongest male is usually the pack leader; all members of
the pack care for the young which helps unite the pack. An
average of 7 pups are born to each female in April-June. Usually hunting
at night, they feed primarily on large mammals by chasing down their victims
either slashing tendons or driving it back to waiting pack members. Even though
they kill only to survive, studies show that wolves play a key role in
drastically decreasing the number of ungulates, sometimes beyond the rate of
replacement, in any given area. The wolf's only important predator is man.
Tracks- This animal generally travels in packs. During
the snowy winter months they tend to follow the trail made by the leader to
conserve energy. The front foot is larger than the rear and the toes are often
splayed particularly in soft ground. The front foot track is rounded with four
toes with the claws evident and the heel pad having a
inverted V-shape, whereas the rear is slightly more oval with a triangular
shaped pad.
Straddle: 16 -18 cm (6.4 - 7.2 in)
Stride: 40 - 46 cm (16 - 18.4 in)
Track: 11 cm (4.4 in) long / 10 cm (4 in) wide
Diet: Extremely variable, but the
majority of the diet is large ungulates (moose, caribou, deer, elk (Cervus elaphus).
Grey wolves will also eat smaller prey items, livestock, carrion, and garbage.
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USFWS
photo by John and Karen Hollingsworth |
William Campbell, USFWS |
Copyright 2003 Bill
& Sue Forbes and Wolf Timbers |
