Gray Wolf eBook

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The Gray Wolf Canis lupus Introduction
• Largest canid species
• Geographic range - wilderness and
remote areas of North America,
Eurasia, and North Africa
• Size – males 43–45 kg (95–99 lb.);
females 36–38.5 kg (79–85 lb.)

Gray Wolf Similarities to
Other Canids & Winter Fur
Similar to German shepherd,
or sled dog, but with:
• Larger head
• Narrower chest
• Longer legs
• Straighter tail
• Bigger paws
Winter fur
• Long and bushy
• Usually mottled gray in color
• Color - pure white, red, brown or black
Image - Gray Wolf in Minnesota photographed by Derek

The Gray Wolf – Social Behavior, Hunting & Diet
• Social
• Advanced expressive behavior
• Travel in nuclear families
consisting of mated pair &
pair's adult offspring
• Hunts large prey
• Diet - large ungulates, smaller
animals, livestock, carrion,
garbage
Image – A brownish variety of Gray wolf
photographed by Bernard Landgraf.

A Brief History of the Gray Wolf
• One of world's most well
researched animals
• Long history of association
with humans
• Despised and hunted in most
agricultural communities due
to attacks on livestock
• Respected by some Native
American tribes
• Sole ancestor of dog, first
domesticated in Middle East

Skulls & Bones –
The Gray Wolf Skeleton

Gray Wolf Attack on Humans,
Hunting & IUCN List
• Most attacks – from rabid wolves
• Non-rabid wolves unusually have attacked and
killed people
• Live away from people & taught to fear humans
by hunters and shepherds
• Hunting and trapping – reduced species' range
• Widespread range and stable populations – not
threatened globally; classified by IUCN as Least
Concern
Image – A female Gray wolf photographed by Drew Avery.

Gray Wolf Physical Description
Background Image – A
Female Gray Wolf
• Slender, powerfully built
• Large, deeply descending
ribcage, sloping back
• Abdomen pulled in
• Neck heavily muscled
• Paws – front: 5 toes; back: 4
toes
Females
• Narrower muzzles and foreheads
• Thinner necks
• Slightly shorter legs
• Less massive shoulders than males

Gray Wolf Sensory Abilities
• Smell - weakly developed compared to
some hunting dog breeds; detect carrion
upwind no farther than 2–3 km
• Rarely manages to capture hidden hares or
birds, though easily follow fresh tracks
• Auditory perception sharper than fox; hear
up to a frequency of 26 kHz, sufficient to
register fall of leaves in autumn
• Night vision exceeds other Canids

Gray Wolf Reproduction
• Monogamous, with mated
pairs usually remaining
together for life
• Death of one mate – pairs
quickly re-established
• Males often dominate
population or pack
• Unpaired females rare
Image – Gray Wolf pups

Learn more about the Gray wolf by
visiting Natureglo’s eScience
Mammals Virtual Library at the link
below.
Copy and paste the below link into your browser.
http://hascmammals.weebly.com/gray-wolf.html

Resources Used
1. Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.;
Reeder, D. M. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns
Hopkins University Press. pp. 532–628. ISBN 978-0-8018-
8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
2. Jump up ^ Nowak, R. M. (1995), Another look at wolf
taxonomy, in: L. N. Carbyn, S. H. Fritts and D. R. Seip (eds),
Ecology and conservation of wolves in a changing world:
proceedings of the second North American symposium on
wolves, pp. 375-397, Edmonton, Canada.
3. Wikipedia gray wolf article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_wolf

Thank you for watching!
Background Image –
Gray wolf curled up
sleeping