What is a Wolf ?
The Grey Wolf ( Canis Lupis ) is the largest North American Wolf. This species is also referred to as The Timber Wolf, Arctic Wolf, Lobo and the Grey Wolf.
Originally , there were 24 subspecies recognized due to geographical location and primary food source. The Red Wolf ( Canis Rufas ) and the Mexican Grey Wolf ( Canis Lupus Baileyi ) Also live in North America.
The Grey Wolf is much larger than coyotes and most domestic dogs. Compared to coyotes wolves have rounder ears that are not as tall and the muzzle is much broader in shape. Their legs are long and their feet are wide with ample surface area for travelling over snow. The colour of this preditory species can range from totally black to almost white. Most often they are shades of browns, tan, and grey with the muzzles being much lighter in colour. The males are typically larger than the females. The grey wolf can range from fifty pounds to one hundred and fifty pounds with an average of approx one hundred pounds. Weight depends on food availability and muscle mass gained from travel and hunting. As carnavores, these animals use their 42 teeth to kill other animals such as deer, elk caribou, moose, bison, musk ox, Dall's sheep, bighorn sheep, antelope, fish, birds and other small mammals as well. Wolves primarily prey upon wild ungulates. They will eat carrion as well.
In the past , The grey wolf ranged accross most of North America . Currantly they live throughout most of Canada, Alaska, and parts of Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming and Washington. A population of wolves has been re- established in Yellowstone National Park starting in 1995. Though claims have been made that wild wolves are in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado as well. These adaptable animals can live on the plains, in the forests. and on the tundra.
The grey wolf mates in winter, usually January to March. In most wild packs, only the Alpha ( dominant) pair will breed, but this is not always the case. One litter is born each year with an average of 6 - 8 wolf pups. The gestation period is sixty -three days at which point the pups are born between April and June wighing twelve to sixteen ounces. Pups are usually weaned at five weeks of ageas thier teeth come inand they are able to eat small chunks of regurgitated meat from the mother.
As they begin to venture outside the den they catch small mice and rodents whilke learning from the other pack members the necessary hunting skills.
Wolves reach sexual maturity at two years of age. Wolf social structure is very complex and unique among wild animals. A dominant pair, or alpha pair, leads the pack. A distinct hierarachy among the other wolves exists and they each understand their place in the family. The least dominant wolf is called the Omega wolf and they are subordinant to the rest of the pack. Wolf dominance consists of two parts, privilege and leadership. During competitive situations, the more dominant wolf displays privilege and excerts control of the favoured item ( food, bone.... ect ). wolves of close ranking may compete for this privilege.
The other aspect of wolf dominance, leadership, is how the alpha's display initiative. this could be when to travel, when to sprint for the kill, when to howl, when to rest and when to be on guard.
Wolves have become a very controversial predator, especially in the wolf recovery areas of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. On occasion wolves will prey on domestic cattle and sheep if thier main food sources are not available. These "problem wolves" are usually destroyed by the wildlife authorities.
Nonetheless, Wolves are a part of the ecosystem like all animals and desrve the right to exsist. Theyt help to balance the natural food chain in the areas where they are native. Wolves will often kill the sick, weak or injured elk or carabou, evidentry making the herds stronger. These animals are not random killers of the wild, bur intelligent , effeciant carnavores taking thier place in a naturaly evollving ecosystem
