Main Characteristics

Grey Wolves are the largest wild member of the dog family. They have a body length between 1 and 1.5 m (3.25 - 5 ft), a tail length between 30 and 51 cms (1 - 1.75 ft) and they weigh between 16 and 60 kgs (35 - 130 lbs).

They are mainly grey or brown but they can be various colours depending on their geographic location. Grey Wolves in the Arctic areas are usually white but in other areas they can be black in colour.

The pack members communicate with each other by crouching, rolling over and chin touching or using vocalizations such as howling.

Habitat

Grey Wolves occupy a wide range of habitats including arctic tundra, steppe, open woodlands, forests, grasslands and arid landscapes. They can be found in North America, Greenland, Europe and Asia and they were once the world's most widely ranging member of the dog family, but due to human persecution and habitat destruction their range has been reduced.

They are highly social and they live in packs of 2 - 36 individuals but more commonly a pack will consist of a family group of 8 - 12 wolves. Within the pack there will be an alpha pair and their offspring, and they form a tightly knit, organized group.

Their is a clearly defined hierarchy within each pack, led by the alpha pair, that helps to maintain order. The pack patrol, scent mark and defend a territory that can range from 130 to 1,500 sq. kms (50 - 580 sq. miles).

Diet

Grey Wolves are carnivores and their prey depends upon their geographic location, availability and if they are hunting alone or together as a pack.

If hunting as a pack they will prey upon large ungulates such as moose, american bison, muskox, reindeer and yak. If hunting alone they will take small mammals such as beavers, rabbits or rodents. They will also eat carrion or rubbish if it is available.

Breeding

After a gestation period of 9 weeks, Grey Wolves give birth to 2 - 10 pups. At birth they weigh approximately 450 g (15.8 oz) and they are ready to leave their den at 8 - 10 weeks old. They are cared for by all members of the pack and they reach sexual maturity at 2 - 3 years of age.

Predators

Grey Wolves are apex predators, so other than humans, few animals will prey upon them. Other Grey Wolves or coyotes will attack lone or young wolves.

Subspecies

There are many subspecies of Grey Wolf and these include:

Arabian Wolf
(Canis lupus arabs)
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
They can be found in southern Israel, Oman, Yemen, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. They are a small subspecies and they have a short, thin, pale brown coloured coat.

Arctic Wolf
(Canis lupus arctos)
Conservation Status: Least Concern
They are also known as the Polar Wolf or White Wolf and they can be found in the Canadian Arctic and Greenland. They are average size and are almost exclusively white or creamy white with a thick coat.

Caspian Sea Wolf
(Canis lupus cubanensis)
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
They are also known as the Caucasian Wolf and they can be found in the extreme southeastern portion of Russia that borders the Caspian Sea.

Eastern Wolf
(Canis lupus lycaon)
Conservation Status: Endangered
They are also known as the Eastern Canadian Wolf, Eastern Canadian Red Wolf or Eastern Timber Wolf. They are found in southeastern Canada.

Eurasian Wolf
(Canis lupus lupus)
Conservation Status: Least Concern
They are also known as the Common Wolf, European Wolf, Carpathian Wolf, Steppes Wolf, Tibetan Wolf or Chinese Wolf. They have the largest range among all Grey Wolf subspecies and they can be found in western Europe and Asia. They are average to large in size and they have short, blended grey fur.

Great Plains Wolf
(Canis lupus nubilus)
Conservation Status: Least Concern
They are also known as the Buffalo Wolf. They are found in eastern Canada, far southwestern Canada, southeastern Alaska and mid western USA. They are average size and usually grey, black, buff or reddish in colour.

Italian Wolf
(Canis lupus italicus)
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
They are also known as the Apennine Wolf and they can be found in Italy, Switzerland and southern France. They are average size and can be a variety of colours.

Mackenzie Valley Wolf
(Canis lupus occidentalis)
Conservation Status: Least Concern
They are also known as the Rocky Mountain Wolf, Alaskan Timber Wolf or Canadian Timber Wolf. They can be found in Alaska, the Northern Rockies, western and central Canada and they were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho in 1995

Mexican Wolf
(Canis lupus baileyi)
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
They are also known as the Mexican Grey Wolf and they are the rarest subspecies. They can be found in central Mexico, western Texas, southern New Mexico and Arizona. They are small and are usually tawny brown or reddish in colour.

Russian Wolf
(Canis lupus communis)
Conservation Status: Least Concern
They can be found in north-central Russia and they are a large subspecies of Grey Wolf.

Southern-East Asian Wolf
(Canis lupus pallipes)
Conservation Status: Endangered
They are also known as the Turkish Wolf or Iranian Wolf and they can be found in Lebanon, northern Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. They have short, pale coloured fur.

Tundra Wolf
(Canis lupus albus)
Conservation Status: Least Concern
They are one of the largest subspecies of Grey Wolf and can be found in northern Europe and Asia, primarily the northern Arctic and boreal regions of Russia.

Vancouver Island Wolf
(Canis lupus crassodon)
Conservation Status: Endangered
They are endemic to Vancouver Island, Canada. They are often grey but can be white in colour and they are medium sized.

Hokkaido Wolf
(Canis lupus hattai)
Conservation Status: Extinct (1888)
They were also known as the Ezo Wolf or *Japanese Wolf and used to be found on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

Honshu Wolf
(Canis lupus hadophilax)
Conservation Status: Extinct (1905)
They were also known as the *Japanese Wolf and used to be found on the Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu.

*Note: The name Japanese Wolf refers to either of the two Japanese subspecies, but it is more commonly used to describe the Honshu Wolf.

Newfoundland Wolf
(Canis lupus beothucus)
Conservation Status: Extinct (1911)
They used to be found in Newfoundland, Canada.

Interesting Facts

Grey Wolves are also known as:
Gray Wolf
Timber Wolf
Wolf

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