Facts
Many people now wonder how many wolves are actually living in the North American region of the world. It is estimated that there are about 3,000 wolves in the states of Montana, Northern Idaho, Northern Michigan, Northern Wisconsin, Western Montana, and Northeast Oregon and especially in Wyoming, where Yellowstone Park is located in America. There are about 8,000 in Alaska, 50,000 in Canada, and fewer than 100 in Mexico, so about 61,100. (ChaCha, 2012) These wolves consist of a few varieties of wolves such as the gray wolf, timber wolf, arctic wolf, Mexican wolf and the eastern red wolf which is considered very rare. Statistics indicate there is only about 300 in the whole world and as few as 150 in North America. (Wolves, 2011; pg. 27) Efforts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service breeding the red wolf in captivity and releasing them in parts of the original range may have saved the red wolf from full extinction. (Lawrence, 1990, pg. 15) These different varieties of wolves are basically the same animal when it comes to their habits and description. Their genus species name is Canis Lupus; they live in packs and have a hierarchy or pecking order. The strongest and most experienced male and female are the leaders. These two wolves are called alpha wolves. The typical size of a wolf's body is usually about 3 to 5 feet long and their tails are usually 1 to 2 feet long. Female wolves typically weigh anywhere between 60 to 100 pounds and males can weigh around 70 to 145 pounds. (Levy, 2003)
A wolf’s tail is often bushy and has a black-tip at the end. A wolf’s coat color is normally a mix of gray and brown but the color can vary from all white to all brown or even all black or it could be a mixture of
several. North American wolves can vary a lot in color. Most all North American wolves are grey and about one third is black. In the wild wolves can live for approximately 8 to 13 years and in captivity they can live to up to around 16 years. (Levy, 2003)
There are many types of habitats to which wolves live in. They comprise of the tundra to woodlands; forests, grasslands and deserts because wolves can thrive in a diversity of habitats. Wolves live in packs. Most packs have four to nine members, but the size can range from as few as two wolves to as many as 15. Occasionally, a pack can increase to 30 members until some individuals break off to find new territory and form their own pack. According to National Geographic in 1995 the largest pack that has ever been observed was the Druid Lamar pack which consisted of 35 members. They were so large they took
over other areas of Yellowstone Park and moved other, smaller packs more North completely out of the park. (National Geographic, video).
A wolf’s tail is often bushy and has a black-tip at the end. A wolf’s coat color is normally a mix of gray and brown but the color can vary from all white to all brown or even all black or it could be a mixture of
several. North American wolves can vary a lot in color. Most all North American wolves are grey and about one third is black. In the wild wolves can live for approximately 8 to 13 years and in captivity they can live to up to around 16 years. (Levy, 2003)
There are many types of habitats to which wolves live in. They comprise of the tundra to woodlands; forests, grasslands and deserts because wolves can thrive in a diversity of habitats. Wolves live in packs. Most packs have four to nine members, but the size can range from as few as two wolves to as many as 15. Occasionally, a pack can increase to 30 members until some individuals break off to find new territory and form their own pack. According to National Geographic in 1995 the largest pack that has ever been observed was the Druid Lamar pack which consisted of 35 members. They were so large they took
over other areas of Yellowstone Park and moved other, smaller packs more North completely out of the park. (National Geographic, video).