Wolves

Facts

• Wolves are a class of the canine family, and they seem to do very well in the right environment
• Some of them are only about 55 pounds full grown while others can be up to 200 pounds.
• They can range in size from 40 to 65 inches in length.
• Wolves live in small groups that are called packs.
• They can have from 6 to 20 members in them at a time.

Habitat

• It isn’t true that they only live in very thick forests and come out at night.
• Wolves have been identified in many areas that you may not ever imagine them being able to survive.
• Wolves spend about 8 or 10 hours every day moving through their home range.
• Some species of wolves only live in the United States in forests.
• Others live in the cold regions of the Arctic.

Feeding

• Wolves are carnivores (meat eaters) but they will eat other foods as well.
• Their diet ranges from big game, such as elk and moose, to earthworms, berries and grass
• Wolves prey on weaker members of a herd, such as old, young or sick animals
• In summer, when the herds migrate, wolves eat mice, birds and even fish.
• They may also eat carrion.

Reproduction

• Wolves are ready to mate at about two years of age.
• Only the lead male and lead female will actually mate
• The females will carry the pups for about two months before giving birth.
• Generally she will have from four to six pups per litter.
• However, some have been noted to have up to fourteen of them at a time!

cOMMUNICATION

• The howl of the wolf can be heard from miles around.
• A wolf may howl for a variety of reasons.
• But the main one involves being able to identify where the rest of the pack
• The howl is also a way to get the members of the pack worked up and excited about going hunting.
• Growls is a way for the wolves within a pack to show aggression towards each other.

characteristics

• The body of a wolf allows it to be able to survive in a variety of different locations.
• It allows for them to be able to run fast, to track prey, and to take down large animals.
• They can have thick fur that is a variety of colors.
• They can include white, tan, brown, black, and gray.
• They are known to have beautiful colors of eyes that can be sky blue or chocolate brown.