The Grey Wolf: Habits and Habitat

The Gray Wolf also called the Timber Wolf. It is the largest of the wolf breeds, standing from 26 to 36 inches at the shoulder. And it can weigh from 70 to 135 pounds. The Grey Wolf has a two-layered coat. While called the Gray Wolf it can be black, red, white, brown, or a combination of those colors.

The farther North they are found, the bigger the wolf is. Males are bigger than the females. They usually lope at around 5 MPH, can run at 25 MPH for several miles and can sprint up to 45 MPH. The Gray Wolf can live to around 13 years of age.

Habits of the Gray Wolf

Gray Wolves usually run in a pack, for several reasons. First they seem to need the companionship. They are close relatives of the domestic dog and the way dogs interact with humans, the wolves interact with each other. It also makes them more, successful hunters, like a pride of lions, they can drag down large game. However all Gray Wolves do not run with a pack, some are loners.

The Wolf helps nature out a great deal. They kill weaker animals, leaving stronger ones as the breeders. This in turn makes the Elk, Deer or whatever stronger, down the line. Also other animals feed off the remains of prey that the Wolves do not consume.

The wolf pack is a social and socially ranked group. An Alpha male and female lead each pack. When one of the Alpha's dies, the other quickly takes a new mate and usually keeps leadership of the pack. The average Gray Wolf Pack has 8 members but can be from 2 to 20 at times.

The Wolf pack hunts by scent and goes after any large herbivores in their area. They will take moose, elk, deer, caribou and even American Bison (Buffalo). When a wolf is a loner, he will take smaller game, such as rabbits, squirrels, and even mice.

Its hard to watch a western movie without hearing a wolf howl at some point in the show. Howling is a means of communication between members of the pack. They will also vary pitch in the howls to confuse prey and rival packs, as to the number of wolves in their pack.