ORDER
GREY WOLF
CARNIVORE
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Canidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Canis lupus
HABITAT
FOREST
DESERT
DIET
CARNIVORE
STATUS
4
RARE
FACTS & FIGURES
Total body length
Length of tail
Height at shoulder
Weight
Pregnancy
Young born
Life span
150cm
28 – 56cm
66 – 81cm
30 – 40kg
60 – 63 days
4–7
8 – 10 in the wild 20 in captivity
DESCRIPTION
The Grey Wolf, also known as the Timber
Wolf, has a coat that can differ greatly in
colour, the most usual colour is deep grey
with a pale grey underside. The colours
range from white to red, brown to black.
The wolf has a long muzzle, large forehead
and long muscular legs. It has five digits
on its forepaws and four on its hind paws.
Most authorities now accept that the
common wolf is the ancestor of the
domestic dog. Although superficially
resembling the Alsatian, the wolf may be
identified by its small triangular ears,
slanting yellow eyes, widely cleft mouth
and concave profile. The wolf has a very
large skull and jaws can produce a biting
force of 15kg per cm2.
The wolf has greater stamina and strength
than the dog, as well as more developed
senses. The wolves of Eurasia differ
considerably from those of North America,
the forequarters being more powerful, the
chest fuller, the muzzle shorter and the
hindquarters more sunken. The huge packs
of grey wolves that once tracked the
buffalo herds across the North American
prairie and which had such a reputation for
savagery have all but vanished today. The
forest sub-species are now the most
characteristic and numerous of North
America. All have long since retreated from
regions inhabited by man. Age, strength
and experience determine a wolf’s status
within the pack and fights to decide which
animals are best suited for leadership are
frequent. A fight consists of a number of
well defined stages, the loser rolls on its
back and bares its throat to the victor.
Attitudes of submission are very common
among cubs in the presence of elders.
Can you think of some fairy stories that
have a ‘Big Bad Wolf’ in them?
POINTS OF INTEREST
Wolves usually mate for life and form the
nucleus of a pack. The size of the pack is
dependant on availability of prey and the
size of the territory. A pack consists of the
dominant Alpha male and Alpha female
and their offspring from previous years.
Subordinate females do not mate but act as
‘helpers’ with cubs and the catching of
prey. Lone wolves are usually young male
animals in search of a mate and the
formation of his own territory. These lone
animals rarely howl as this will pin-point
their position to other packs and they
will be attacked. Body language, such as
facial expressions, the position of the ears
and how the tail is held, is an important
part of the hierarchy within the pack.
When the breeding season starts, at the end
of winter, there is great tension in the pack
to attain the dominant role. This ensures
that only the strongest will mate. The
mating seasons lasts for about 2 weeks.
Pack sizes can vary from 5 – 20 animals.
NATURAL DIET
Wolves take a wide variety of food. In
wilderness areas caribou, deer and moose
are the most usual prey. Many of these
animals weigh ten times more than the
wolf. A single wolf is capable of catching
and killing a deer but a pack is required for
larger animals. The wolf has enormous
powers of endurance which is the key to its
hunting success. Although it is not very
fast it can keep up a steady speed of
45km/h for 24 hours if necessary. Wolf
packs in the far north often travel hundreds
of kilometres following migrating herds.
Small mammals such as beaver and hares
are important in the summer. Berries and
fruit as well as carrion are also eaten.
Domestic animals have little defence and
are taken when available.
LONGLEAT DIET
Summer – The wolves are fed a diet of
meat on the bone with added vitamins
and minerals to keep them healthy.
Winter – As the summer, the wolves are
fed a diet of vitamin enriched meat on
the bone.
© Longleat
COMMUNICATION
Lone wolves howl to keep in touch with
other members of the pack, but sometimes
the entire pack gathers together and howls
as though singing in chorus. It is believed
these noisy get-togethers may serve to
strengthen social ties among members of
the pack. Many other sounds communicate
information in the highly organised wolf
pack, which is headed by the Alpha male
and female. A growl by the Alpha female
keeps subordinates in tow. Brisk
barks warn of danger. A nursing female
‘speaks’ to her pups in soothing whimpers.
It is now thought that wolves howl when
travelling their territory to advertise their
presence and so avoid unnecessary
encounters with other packs. Scent
marking also enforces the message that the
territory is unavailable. When two packs
meet there is usually a fight which can
result in deaths. Body language is also
important. Pack members greet the Alpha
male with a nuzzling, nipping ceremony.
He in turn may assert his dominance with
a gentle but unmistakable nip on the neck
of a pack member. Tail, ear and head
movements are among the many other
signals used by members of the pack.
WORLD
DISTRIBUTION
GREY WOLF – Found mostly in Canada
and Eastern Russia, there are very small
pockets in Europe and the Middle East.
They live in forests, tundra, deserts, plains
and mountains.
Wolves lived wild in Britain until 1743
when the last one is believed to have been
killed in Scotland.
CONSERVATION
Like most carnivores, the wolf abundant
only a century ago, is nowadays becoming
very rare. Superstitions and fairy stories
have played a large part in the persecution
of these animals. In some regions where it
once roamed wild it is protected in reserves
and national parks. Although the wolf is
protected, it is treading a fine line between
© Longleat
DID YOU KNOW?
A wolf pack howling can be
heard 10km away.
Cubs are born helpless and
with their eyes closed.
The father or helpers will guard
the cubs while the mother is
away.
A den is excavated by the
female, sometimes by enlarging
the den of another animal.
After a month the cubs emerge
and receive food from both the
mother and helpers.
If food is abundant the cubs
will travel with the pack at 3 –
5 months.
survival and extinction. In Europe and
North America it is still shot despite legal
protection. Habitat destruction and
therefore lack of prey has also contributed
to their decline. Populations in Europe are
recovering naturally to between 15,500 and
18,000. The biggest populations are found
in Romania, the Balkans and Poland.
TALKING WITH
THEIR TAILS
Normal
I’m defending
myself
I’m in charge!
I give in
you’re in charge