WOLF FAQ
There are only two known species of wolf in North America--the gray wolf and the red wolf. Other subspecies in the U.S include:
-
Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf
-
Mexican wolf
-
Arctic wolf
-
Eastern wolf
-
Alexander Archipelago wolf
-
Great Plains wolf
-
Red wolves: Red wolves live at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. This is the only location where wild red wolves can be found today.
Canadian gray wolf: Canadian gray wolves are found in Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories of Canada and the northwest United States; such as Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.
Mexican gray wolf: Mexican wolves are native to Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico.
Algonquin wolf: the Algonquin wolf lives in the Great Lakes region and Algonquin Provincial Park in southeastern Ontario, Canada.Wolf packs function as a group, usually comprising of a breeding pair and their offspring. However, it is not uncommon for genetically unrelated wolves to join an already-existing pack. Family groups are multigenerational and can vary in size from 2-12 animals to nearly 30.
In the United States, wolves are responsible for less than 0.2% of unwanted livestock depredations. Respiratory issues, weather, illness, and digestive problems cause 94% of fatalities. According to USDA, out of the 3,773,000 livestock fatalities that occurred in 2010, only 219,900 were caused by predators. Of those predator-caused losses, 8,100 were attributed to wolves and 21,800 were attributed to domestic dogs; making livestock depredations by dogs 37.21% higher than that of wolves.
Source: Cattle Death Loss | USDA
In the wild, wolves typically live 2-3 years. The shortened lifespan is due to the numerous threats they face in the wild (eg., human interaction, rivalry with other wolves, and injuries sustained when hunting.) However, in captivity, wolves live much longer, with some documented exceeding 20 years of age. This is thanks to the safety from the dangers in the wild.
Generally, no. Wolves naturally fear people and avoid human contact. In the past century in North America, there have only been two cases where a wild wolf killed a human—one in British Columbia and one in Alaska.
Source: Wolf and Human Safety | Colorado State University
Wolves are seasonal breeders and mate during the months of February and March. The gestation period (length of pregnancy) is around 63 days. Wolf pups are typically born in May or early June. An average litter size for gray is 4 to 6.
Gray wolves in North America primarily prey on ungulates such as elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, caribou, and bison. In Alaska and western Canada, wolves have even been observed fishing. In Northern Minnesota, wolves occasionally consume berries during summer. Red wolves typically prey on animals including white-tailed deer, rodents, and nutria.
Gray wolves in North America primarily prey on ungulates such as elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, caribou, and bison. In Alaska and western Canada, wolves have even been observed fishing. In Northern Minnesota, wolves occasionally consume berries during summer. Red wolves typically prey on animals including white-tailed deer, rodents, and nutria.
No. Wolves do not kill for fun. However, it is a common myth that they do. Surplus killing has likely been mistaken for "pleasure" killing. Surplus killing is when a predator kills more prey than they can consume. However, they always return to the caches over the course of several weeks or months to eat them when hungry. Surplus killing usually occurs when food is scarce and is done to gather as much of it as possible and reduce time spent hunting in the future. Wolves successfully secure a kill only 15% of the time. By having a sufficient food quantity, wolves feed themselves and their young. It is for survival. Not pleasure.
Source: The Truth About Wolf Surplus Killing: Survival, Not SportStatistics demonstrate sufficient elk and deer numbers in the states where wolves are found. 850,000 elk and 1,639,864 deer in all. In 2023, over 72,050 elk were harvested by hunters in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Regarding wolves, packs in that region typically kill 22 elk a year. If you multiply that number by how many packs are in the northern Rocky Mountain states (181 in Montana, 80 in Idaho, and 49 in Wyoming) by the average number of elk killed by wolves each year (22) you get a 6,688 total of elk that are killed by all wolves in the northern Rockies combined; thus proving that wolves kill far less elk than human hunters.
Sources:
It depends on the species. Critically endangered American red wolves and Mexican gray wolves are categorized under the AZA SAFE Program, or Saving Animals from Extinction. SAFE assists in the recovery of endangered species through captive breeding and release.
Learn more about SAFE: AZA SAFE Program | American Association of Zoos & Aquariums
Dispersal occurs when a sexually mature adult wolf disperses (splits) from their natal to search for and establish available habitat and find a breeding partner. While most wolves disperse, some may choose to stay with their pack. Male wolves are more likely to disperse than females.
Phenotype is a term used when referring to the characteristics of an organism. Wolves and dogs may appear similar, but also have noticeable differences too. These include:
Wolves:-
Tail that hangs straight down
-
Smaller chest width
-
Yellow or golden eyes
-
Ears are rounded at the tip
-
Wolves do not bark
-
Dense fur
-
Large paws
-
Absolutely! Wolves are highly intelligent animals and possess the cognitive ability to express emotions such as happiness, frustration, anxiety, sorrow, empathy, and compassion. In a National Library of Medicine study, wolves were surveyed mirroring each other, such as yawning when another wolf yawned. In another study, captive wolves were observed consoling victims of conflict by muzzle licking which, in turn, reduces aggression among other wolves. Jim and Jamie Dutcher, two of America's leading experts on wolves witnessed grief among a pack after a cougar killed a packmate. The wolves howled individually rather than as a pack and hung their tails and heads low. This behavior persisted for a total of six weeks before recovery was evident. Coyotes also exhibit emotions, which is expressed in Marc Bekcoff's book; "The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy ― and Why They Matter"
Sources:
Social Modulation of Contagious Yawning in Wolves
Back to the Future: A Glance Over Wolf Social Behavior to Understand Dog–Human Relationship
Mourning A Lost Pack Mate | Living with Wolves